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Category: Sport

  • Starting 5, Feb. 28: Shai’s return, OT thrillers for both top seeds, b-day Luka leads Lakers vs. Dubs on ABC

    Blood, sweat and a mile-high teardrop.

    All that and overtime in SGA’s Playoff-like return against rival Denver.

    Read on to see how both top seeds were pushed to their limits in a pair of OT classics Friday.

    Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

    5 STORIES IN TODAY’S EDITION 🏀

    Feb. 28, 2026

    MVPs Duel: Shai’s sharp return fuels OKC past Joker’s triple-double in intense, OT thriller

    More Top-Seed OT: Jalen Duren lifts Detroit in fiery overtime comeback over Cavs without new backcourt

    Friday Firepower: C’s efficient shooting nets 148, Brunson’s big 1st quarter, Grizzlies spread scoring

    ABC Saturday: Lakers bring Luka’s birthday party to the Bay; Look back at his milestones through age 26

    On Prime: Rockets return to West’s top-3 with defense, aim to slow high-scoring Heat

    BUT FIRST … ⏰

    February’s final day sends five games your way…

    Scores & Schedule

    Saturday’s slate of five games spreads out across 10 hours, showcase style, highlighted by the Rockets visiting the Heat on Prime (3:30 ET | Tap To Watch) and Lakers at Warriors for Saturday Primetime on ABC (8:30 ET | Tap To Watch).

    Coming up Tuesday, the Spurs visit the Sixers on NBC & Peacock’s throwback broadcast (8 ET), featuring notable NBC voices from the 1990s and early 2000s: Bob Costas, Doug Collins, Mike Fratello and more.

    1. MVPS DUEL: SGA RETURNS, OKC OUTLASTS JOKIĆ, DENVER IN OT

    Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

    With OKC’s season-long lead in the West down to 1.5 games, Friday’s West Semis rematch with Denver promised plenty of intensity.

    What it delivered was a Playoff atmosphere from start to finish.

    Thunder 127, Nuggets 121 (OT): SGA (36 pts, 9 ast) guided OKC’s comeback in regulation in his first action in nine games (abdomen) and five Thunder players scored in OT to overcome Nikola Jokić’s triple-double (23 pts, 17 reb, 14 ast) and a big game from Jamal Murray (39 pts, 8 reb, 6 ast, 7 3s). | Recap

    • Rumbling Back: Down by as many as 16, the Thunder cut their deficit to 6 to start the 4th, where they opened with three straight 3s to take their first lead since it was 13-12
    • Down The Stretch: The quarter saw four more lead changes, with the Thunder taking the last advantage on an Alex Caruso (12 pts) triple with 1:23 remaining. They wouldn’t trail again, including in OT
    • Worth Extra: Joker’s floater in the lane with 38 seconds left tied the game at 107-all, forcing OT when Caruso’s ensuing open look missed at the buzzer
    • “Bad read,” Caruso told Inside The NBA. “Nobody’s perfect and I made a couple plays in overtime to make up for it.”

    OKC took overtime 20-14, prevailing in a physical atmosphere from two rivals who will meet twice more in this season’s final stretch, including a matchup 10 days from now.

    • “They brought the intensity tonight,” Chet Holmgren (15 pts, career-high 21 reb) said of Denver. “You always want to play against the best players, the best teams. That’s just a great win.”

    Showing no signs of missing time, SGA poured in 32 points over the first 3 quarters, slowed only by a minutes limit that held him out for OT.

    • “Felt good. Happy to just be out there playing with my teammates,” Shai said. “Been a tough couple of weeks, obviously, not having the game I love. I’m just thankful to be back.”
    • Four More: Shai resumed his 20+ point scoring streak in his return, now just four games away from tying Wilt Chamberlain’s record (126 consecutive games)

    “My teammates held it down,” SGA said. “They’ve been able to find ways to win, no matter who’s playing, who’s not.”

    “It’s only gonna sharpen our tools come Playoff time.”

    2. OT ATOP THE EAST: PISTONS RALLY PAST SHORTHANDED CAVS IN OVERTIME

    Jalen Duren

    In the night’s other 1–vs.–4 OT thriller, shorthanded Cleveland tested East-leading Detroit.

    But it was how the Pistons covered Cade Cunningham’s absence that decided OT.

    Pistons 122, Cavaliers 119 (OT): Trailing by 9 with 3:05 remaining and losing Cunningham (25 pts, 10 reb, 7 ast) just over a minute later (fouled out), Detroit mustered a 16-7 burst to force overtime.

    Cade’s sub, Daniss Jenkins, drew a shooting foul at midcourt and knocked down three free throws to earn the extra frame, where Jalen Duren (33 pts) and the Pistons outscored the Cavs 8-4. | Recap

    • Duren Dub-Dub: Jalen (16 reb, 3 blk) logged his third career 30+/15+ game, the most by any Pistons player before turning 23
    • He’s the first Pistons player since Bob McAdoo (1980) with four straight 25+/10+ games, and the youngest in the NBA to do so since Luka Dončić in 2019-20
    • Out Front: The Pistons move to a league-best 44-14 (.759 win%), continuing their second-best start to a season in franchise history
    • Without James Harden (hand) and Donovan Mitchell (groin), Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson preached (and demonstrated) togetherness
    • Bigs Bash: Jarrett Allen (25 pts, 9 reb) and Evan Mobley (23 pts, 12 reb, 4 3s, 4 blk) led the way for Cleveland, who will host a rematch Tuesday night

    Two years ago, the Pistons held the league’s worst clutch record at just 8-27.

    Friday, Detroit collected its league-leading 25th clutch win, with the second-best clutch win percentage (.735).

    • Lock In: Detroit’s 2nd-rated clutch defense (98.1 DefRtg) limits opponents to 37.0 FG% in clutch time, which leads the NBA
    • Driving Clutch: With Cunningham on the bench, Detroit turned to its other All-Star, Duren, who piled up 15 points and 8 rebounds across the 4th quarter and overtime
    • “Domination.” That’s how Ausar Thompson described Duren’s play. “Super aggressive. He’s just doing extra now, he’s just trying to show off.”

    Detroit’s hardest-fought win of the week closed a three-game homestand (2-1) that also brought in top West seeds San Antonio and OKC.

    The East’s leader now hits the road for three, where the Cavs and Spurs await again.

    3. FRIDAY FIREPOWER: C’S NET 148, BRUNSON IGNITES EARLY

    Right between the Pistons and Cavs in the standings, both Boston and New York put up statement scoring displays Friday.

    Celtics 148, Nets 111: Jaylen Brown (7 reb, 9 ast) and Nikola Vučević (11 reb, 3 3s) logged 28 points apiece as all 13 active C’s players scored in Boston’s highest-scoring game since 2023, shooting past Michael Porter Jr.’s (18 pts) Nets for a fifth win in six games. | Recap

    • Efficient C’s: The Celtics shot 66.7% from the field and hit 22 of 34 3s for an 80.8 eFG%, the highest in a single game in the shot clock era (since 1954-55)
    • “I like to see him aggressive. That’s a good sign for us,” Brown said of Vučević, who had his highest-scoring game in Celtics green

    Jalen Brunson

    Knicks 127, Bucks 98: With the Bucks, winners of eight of their last 10, hitting seven 3s in the opening frame, Jalen Brunson (27 pts, 7 reb, 4 3s) ignited early for 22 1st-quarter points, pushing New York to the lead for good 7 minutes in. | Recap

    • Early Captain Clutch: The 22-point 1st set Brunson’s high for any quarter this season, and the 3rd-highest scoring frame of his career
    • Milestone Unlocked: His final points of the 1st gave him 7,000 in 265 games with New York, besting Carmelo (269) for fewest Knicks games to 7,000 points
    • Pitching In: Six Knicks joined Brunson in double figures, while Myles Turner (19 pts) and Kyle Kuzma (17 pts) each hit four triples to lead Milwaukee
    • Eastern Escalator: The 3-seed Knicks gained a game of breathing room on 4th-place Cleveland, keeping pace with Boston and Detroit

    Grizzlies 124, Mavericks 105: Cam Spencer (25 pts) led seven Grizzlies in double figures to a wire-to-wire win over Brandon Williams (16 pts, 8 reb) and the Mavericks, snapping a three-game skid. | Recap

    4. ABC SATURDAY: LUKA’S BIRTHDAY IN THE BAY; LAKERS VISIT WARRIORS

    Luka Dončić

    Saturday night, primetime lights, an in-state rival and a national audience.

    The stage is set for a birthday party befitting the league’s leading scorer.

    Tonight (8:30 ET, ABC), on his 27th birthday, Luka Dončić and the Lakers visit the Warriors with postseason positioning on the line, with a difference of 3.5 games and a guaranteed Playoff spot between them.

    • Lakers Lately: L.A. has dropped its last three games, trying to maintain 6th place in the West with Phoenix just 1 game back
    • Looking In: The Warriors, along with those Suns, currently hold the top half of the SoFi Play-In Tournament positions

    With those stakes in mind, the Lakers will be pleased to know that Luka has won on his birthday for two years running.

    • B-Day Tradition: Tonight will be the fifth time Luka plays on his birthday, where he averages 30.8 ppg
    • Gifted Play: His high for the day is 39 points (2023) but his most dominant outing was 2024’s triple-double (30 pts, 12 reb, 16 ast)
    • Age 26 In L.A.: Dončić debuted with the Lakers 18 days before his birthday last year, collecting 2,294 points, 583 rebounds, and 608 assists in 74 games with L.A. since
    • He’s the only Laker to reach those numbers in any 74-game span, with the most points scored through his first 74 games in franchise history

    For his full career, Luka is one of two players to total 14,000 points, 400 rebounds and 400 assists before age 27, joining his teammate LeBron James.

    As he turns 27, Dončić has earned:

    • Six All-Star selections
    • Five All-NBA inclusions
    • One Finals appearance (2024)
    • One scoring title (33.9 ppg, 2023-24), and is on pace for his second (32.7)

    What will he accomplish in his next year?

    Speaking of birthdays, Brandin Podziemski celebrated his 23rd on Wednesday with a win in Memphis (19 pts, 8 reb, 6 ast) in Golden State’s most recent outing.

    • Podziemski’s Party: Brandin shared the scoring load, as the Warriors showcased their depth with eight double-digits scorers. Malevy Leons was 1 point away from all 9 active Warriors scoring in double figures

    5. ON PRIME: HOLDING 3RD-PLACE WITH DEFENSE, ROCKETS LOOK TO SLOW HEAT

    Norman Powell, Kevin Durant, Amen Thompson

    Shooting past Denver into 3rd place in the West, the Rockets are clicking at the right time as the Playoffs draw near.

    And while much is made of this top-10 offense’s (117.2 OffRtg) formidable features, defense is leading Houston’s trajectory.

    The Rockets are 4-1 post-All-Star break after limiting five straight opponents to 108 points or less.

    This afternoon (3:30 ET, Prime), they’ll try to wrangle this season’s 2nd-highest scoring offense (119.9 ppg) in Miami.

    • Defending With The Best: The Rockets are tied for this season’s 4th-best defensive rating (111.6) with Miami, with only the league’s three 40+ win teams outranking them
    • “We rely on our one-on-one defense and locking into shooters to keep teams in check at 3-point line,” coach Ime Udoka explained. Houston ranks top-3 in both opponents’ made 3s (12.1 3pg) and 3p% (34.5)
    • Calling Card: Udoka has had Houston ranked within the top-10 for defensive rating in all three of his seasons at the helm, and top-5 the past two years
    • Before That? Three straight seasons with a bottom-5 defensive rating
    • Big Jump: 2024-25 is where Houston made a 9-win leap to the 2-seed, spotting up in similar positioning now with the goal of advancing beyond the Playoffs’ first round

    “You have to start to be healthy and playing your best basketball at this time… tight as it is in the West,” Udoka said. “And do what we’ve done in previous years, which is have a really good season after All-Star break.”

    8th-place Miami is executing its own identity shift this season, feeding its high-scoring offense with the league’s fastest pace (104.89).

    • “We wanted to switch the philosophy of how we played basketball,” Bam Adebayo said of offseason discussions after a first-round Playoff exit
    • This season’s fastest-playing team had never ranked higher than 12th in pace in the play-by-play era (1996-97), cracking the top-20 twice in coach Erik Spoelstra’s previous seasons
    • Something’s Gotta Give: Contrasting Houston’s defense, Miami hasn’t scored less than 117 points since the All-Star break (2-2), averaging 124.5 ppg

    Roundup: Kon Knueppel, back in action after breaking the rookie 3-point record Thursday, leads the Hornets against the Blazers (1 ET).

    • Raptors at Wizards (7 ET)
    • Pelicans at Jazz (9:30 ET)
  • The Athletic: Spurs’ winning formula is more than Victor Wembanyama. Their undefeated month showed it

    The Athletic: Spurs’ winning formula is more than Victor Wembanyama. Their undefeated month showed it

    The Spurs have won 11 in a row and are just 1.5 games behind the Thunder.

    Editor’s Note: Read more NBA coverage from The Athletic here. The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the NBA or its teams. 

    ***

    NEW YORK — Victor Wembanyama claimed he hadn’t heard, but it was inevitably coming for him. The San Antonio Spurs had just beaten the Brooklyn Nets 126-110 to complete a perfect 11-0 month of February when he was asked how his team has managed to block out the “noise” that they are proving to be among the title favorites.

    “I mean, you’re the first one to tell me about it,” Wembanyama said with a wry smile. “So to block out that noise, I guess, can you take away his mic?”

    When the intrepid young reporter gleefully passed the mic off to the next inquisitor, Wembanyama mumbled “Thank you,” only to be soon asked about his place as the next face of the league and the potential MVP. It was in that moment that he simultaneously made his case for the award while proving why he probably can’t get it.

    It’s the same reason the Spurs closed their third undefeated month in franchise history and are quickly climbing to the top of the NBA’s standings at 43-16, just 1.5 games behind the Oklahoma City Thunder.

    “I know I’m in MVP conversations. Of course, it’s one of my goals,” Wembanyama said. “The main argument for that is team success, but I’m also conscious that I need to press the gas a little bit in the last games of the season.”

    The biggest argument against Wembanyama’s MVP candidacy is this Spurs run of success, during which a different teammate carries the scoring load on a nightly basis as he finds way to make a holistic impact on games. The Spurs kept winning without him early in the season. They keep winning with him now that the team is fully healthy.

    Full Game Highlights: San Antonio Spurs @ Brooklyn Nets

    Wembanyama and the Spurs find themselves in this peculiar, unexpected place as they enter the penultimate month of the season. They started this campaign in October simply hoping to make the postseason. Wembanyama made waves when he had the audacity to say their goal was the No. 6 seed when most of his teammates were saying winning the Play-In Tournament would be quite fine.

    Now, ahead of the homestretch of the regular season, the Spurs regrouped and discussed the whole championship thing head-on.

    “After the All-Star break, we had the conversation with the team of just, every game from now on, it means something. We’re fighting for something. We’re building something,” Julian Champagnie said last week.

    The result was a continuation of what is now an 11-game winning streak, which is possible only because the Spurs saw a bottom-of-the-standings team like the Nets start to close the gap in the second half and quickly blew the game wide open. Champagnie, in his hometown of Brooklyn, dropped a game-high 26 points in just 24 minutes, showing the kind of performance the Spurs keep getting from a deep supporting cast that has proven to be the ideal fit around their enormous star.

    This level of success is a novel experience for most of this locker room. It’s why these games all matter. They are learning how to be winners in real time, preparing for a playoff run less than two months away against a field loaded with the playoff experience they largely lack.

    “No, I have not experienced this much winning in my life,” Champagnie said. “I think that most teams I’ve been on, we’ve just been OK, mediocre, kind of teetering between winning, not winning, figuring it out.”

    Champagnie thought back to the Spurs’ run to the NBA Cup final in Las Vegas in December, which strengthened an already close-knit group and put it on track toward winning consistently once players got healthy.

    “I feel like that’s just what we’re doing, and we’re seeing the benefits of it,” Champagnie said. “And I think we all love it.”

    Does that mean the Spurs’ success this month — and the variety of ways they have achieved it — shows they are ready for the playoffs, in spite of Wembanyama and Stephon Castle being new to the whole high-level winning thing?

    “Honestly, the coach hasn’t been there either, so we’ll have to see,” coach Mitch Johnson said. “The reasoning why people get excited about us is very logical. The reasoning for people to have concerns about whatever their concerns are about, I’m sure typically have some logic behind it. And honestly, it has not moved us.”

    The formula the Spurs’ coach has refined over the past month has proven to work against a variety of teams. The Spurs’ guard play has taken pressure off Wembanyama to be the main on-ball creator. Johnson noted after the game that when Wembanyama is in a stance, he is the most influential defender in the league — and even in the conversation as “something very unique from what we’ve seen.”

    Johnson took most pride in the fact none of his players went on any historic stretch during this period. It was just consistently good play from a lot of different types of players.

    “I think that’s a sign of growth for a team that at a certain point, we were probably a bit of a momentum team earlier in the season,” Johnson said. “Our highs were really high, but we were continuing to grasp that consistency, and I think it’s been fun this month to have some struggle.”

    The Spurs have been through some ebbs and flows this season, but they aren’t just winning now. They look like the team they were early in the season, before the scouting report made its way around the league and the Spurs had to respond. Now they have a blend of health, consistency and adaptability that has them winning on a regular basis against good and bad teams.

    They aren’t a great team yet, but they are a team that keeps winning as the biggest tests get closer.

    “Does (the undefeated month) mean it was perfect? Not at all,” Wembanyama said. “But looking back, it’s never really perfect. So it’s pretty satisfying.”

    ***

    Jared Weiss is a staff writer covering the San Antonio Spurs and Victor Wembanyama for The Athletic. He has covered the Celtics since 2011, co-founding CLNS Media Network while in college before covering the team for SB Nation’s CelticsBlog and USA Today. Before coming to The Athletic, Weiss spent a decade working for the government, primarily as a compliance bank regulator. Follow Jared on Twitter @JaredWeissNBA

  • NBA Fantasy: DFS picks & advice for Feb. 27

    NBA Fantasy: DFS picks & advice for Feb. 27

    The Knicks’ Jalen Brunson is averaging 36.5 points, four assists and 2.5 rebounds this season against the Bucks.

    It’s Friday, Feb. 27 and the NBA has a total of just five games on the schedule, including a nationally-televised doubleheader on ESPN. The Cleveland Cavaliers and Detroit Pistons have a Central Division clash at 7 p.m. ET, while the Denver Nuggets and Oklahoma City Thunder meet at 9:30 p.m. ET at Paycom Center.

    Here are our top NBA DFS picks and advice for tonight’s slate.

    NBA DFS core plays

    Jaylen Brown (SG, SF – BOS)

    • DraftKings: $9,800
    • FanDuel: $10,000

    A good spot to start for your lineup on Friday is swingman Jaylen Brown, who is averaging 46.6 fantasy points per game. He is facing a Brooklyn Nets defense with an opponent rank of 19, so it’s a favorable matchup.

    Since the All-Star break, Brown has scored at least 23 points in all three games, averaging 26 points, 11.3 rebounds, 7.7 assists and 1.3 3-pointers per game, including a triple-double at Golden State on February 19th.

    The last time he faced the Nets, Brown also had a triple-double, going for 27 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds with four 3-pointers and a steal on January 23rd in Brooklyn. Against the Nets this season, Brown is averaging 27.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, 6.7 assists, 1.3 steals and 2.7 3-pointers per game in three meetings.

    Jalen Brunson (PG – NYK)

    • DraftKings: $9,000
    • FanDuel: $8,800

    When filling the point guard position, Jalen Brunson is the best option today. He is averaging 41.1 fantasy points per game, and faces a struggling Bucks team with an opponent rank of 27. In four games since returning from the All-Star break, Brunson has scored at least 19 points in all four outings, while posting six or more assists in three of the four outings. He has also dropped in seven triples.

    Brunson has tormented the Bucks this season, averaging 36.5 points, four assists, 2.5 rebounds and 2.5 3-pointers per game in two previous meetings. He scored 36 points in Milwaukee on October 28th, while going for 37 points and four triples in an NBA Cup game at Madison Square Garden on November 28th.

    Chet Holmgren (PF – OKC)

    • DraftKings: $8,600
    • FanDuel: $8,100

    The lanky big man for Oklahoma City is coming off an absolute stinker on Tuesday in Toronto, as he was limited to just seven points on 3-of-8 shooting, while pulling down nine rebounds with four assists, three blocks and a steal in 30 minutes. Chet Holmgren has shot just 8-of-22 (36.4%) from the field in the past two outings.

    While DFS players in the past two games are muttering Holmgren’s name, his price tag has dropped, making him a tremendous value play against the visiting Denver Nuggets. Holmgren is averaging 34.9 fantasy points per game, while the Nuggets are 24th in opponent rank. Look for Holmgren to bounce back, even with Nikola Jokić lurking in the paint.

    NBA DFS cash game targets

    Josh Hart (SG, SF – NYK)

    • DraftKings: $6,500
    • FanDuel: $6,200

    If you’re looking for a New York stack, swingman Josh Hart is a strong option. He is good for 31.9 fantasy points per game, while facing a Milwaukee defense that has an opponent rank of 25. With just five games to choose from, the Knicks are looking awfully good against the Bucks’ leaky defense.

    Milwaukee is allowing 115.4 points per game, which ranks 16th in the NBA. Opposing teams are shooting 46.5% (11th) from the field against Milwaukee and 36.4% (20th) from behind the 3-point line. The last time Hart faced the Bucks, he went for 19 points, 15 rebounds, seven assists and three steals.

    Naji Marshall (SF – DAL)

    • DraftKings: $6,300
    • FanDuel: $7,200

    Naji Marshall is coming off a giant performance against the Sacramento Kings on Thursday, going for 36 points on 14-of-23 shooting, including 1-of-4 from behind the 3-point line and 7-of-11 from the free-throw line. He added 10 rebounds and six assists.

    Marshall has seen his scoring averages increase every month this season. He is averaging 18.8 points, 4.4 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.4 steals in nine games this month. Marshall is averaging 14.5 points, seven rebounds, four assists and 1.5 steals in two meetings versus the Grizzlies this season, including a pair of 3-pointers.

    GG Jackson (PF – MEM)

    • DraftKings: $6,000
    • FanDuel: $6,300

    The 21-year-old from the University of South Carolina has really stepped up his play in February, going for 20+ points in four of the past five games. In that five-game span, GG Jackson is averaging 21.8 points, 6.4 rebounds, 2.4 3-pointers, 2.2 assists and 1.2 blocks per game.

    Jackson is averaging just 20 fantasy points per game, but don’t be dissuaded by that figure. His playing time has been ratcheted up lately, and so has his production. He is facing a Dallas defense with an opponent rank of 28.

    NBA DFS GPP targets

    Jaylin Williams (PF, C – OKC)

    • DraftKings: $5,800
    • FanDuel: $4,800

    Jaylin Williams is likely to come off the bench after being in the starting five with Isaiah Hartenstein (calf) and Chet Holmgren (back) sidelined. He went for 30 points and 11 rebounds with five 3-pointers in a start in Detroit on Wednesday.

    Expect Williams to come off the bench, with his playing time returning to the neighborhood of 15-20 minutes. However, he still has the potential for double-digit points with a smattering of assist sand rebounds, with an occasional 3-pointer. He is quite the value on FanDuel.

    Khris Middleton (PF – DAL)

    • DraftKings: $5,600
    • FanDuel: $5,400

    Khris Middleton has picked up the pace lately, and he is a strong play against a Grizzlies defense with an opponent rank of 26. He is good for 22.5 fantasy points per game, and those numbers have been on the rise across the past five outings.

    Middleton had been nursing a shoulder injury, but that didn’t appear to set him back against Sacramento on Thursday, going for 17 points, five rebounds and four assists. He has had a nice resurgence since coming over from Washington. Middleton has scored 17+ points in three of the past four outings.

    Brandon Williams (PG, SG – DAL)

    • DraftKings: $5,500
    • FanDuel: $6,000

    Brandon Williams gets a crack at the Grizzlies, and their opponent rank of 24. He has racked up 13+ points in five consecutive games, while hitting the mark in 11 of the previous 12 outings. He’ll step out for an occasional 3-pointer, but that’s not a huge part of his game.

    Williams has managed at least four assists in five straight outings, and he has shot 50% or better from the field in each of those contests. Williams has also been good for three blocks in the past three games, and at least one steal in five of the previous seven outings.

    NBA DFS Value Plays

    Olivier-Maxence Prosper (PF, C – MEM)

    • DraftKings: $4,800
    • FanDuel: $5,000

    Olivier-Maxence Prosper will get a crack against his former NBA team, and he should be in the starting five. He has been a little erratic lately, but he is averaging 12.8 points, 4.4 rebounds, 1.3 assists, one steal and 1.6 3-pointers in nine games this month.

    Prosper should be amped to face the Mavericks. It won’t take much for him to exceed DFS salary expectations.

    Craig Porter Jr. (PG – CLE)

    • DraftKings: $3,500
    • FanDuel: $4,000

    Craig Porter Jr. is likely to benefit from extra run with Donovan Mitchell (groin) sidelined. Sam Merrill, Dennis Schröder and Jaylon Tyson are also likely to see some extra minutes. Remember that James Harden (thumb) suffered a fractured thumb last time out.

    Caleb Martin (SF, PF – DAL)

    • DraftKings: $3,700
    • FanDuel: $4,000

    With rookie swingman Cooper Flagg (foot) unlikely to play, Caleb Martin should see considerable playing time against the Grizzlies. Khris Middleton, Naji Marshall and Martin have been the biggest beneficiaries with the rookie sidelined the past five games.

  • NBA Mailbag: Are Celtics the East favorites if Jayson Tatum returns?

    The NBA Mailbag is open with NBA legend and NBC analyst Jamal Crawford ready to answer your questions before Sunday Night Basketball matchups on NBC/Peacock. This week, the Sixers travel to Boston to face the Celtics in a key Eastern Conference clash (8 ET, NBC/Peacock).

    Have a question for Jamal? Submit it here. 

    Will the Celtics be the favorites to win the East if Jayson Tatum comes back? – from Sean in Boston, MA

    What’s up, Sean? I think the Celtics, the way they’re playing, may be the favorites to win the East, whether he does or does not come back. I don’t think anybody predicted they would be number two in the East with Tatum sidelined. Jaylen Brown is a true MVP candidate, Coach Mazzulla deserves Coach of the Year consideration, and how hard they play defense will always give them a chance, no matter who they play.

    Did you expect Tyrese Maxey to develop like he has (currently 5th in scoring)? What can he do to take his game even higher? – from Marcel in Pittsburgh, PA

    I did not see him developing into a top‑5 scorer this soon. But I saw the talent, I saw the work ethic, and everybody said he was a great teammate who always works on his game. The next step for him, like all the greats, is to win. Once you win, people notice on a higher level, and that brings more awareness to your game.

    What’s been most impressive about Jaylen Brown’s season? – from Mike in Milford, MA

    His leadership. We always knew he could score and that he was a leader, but now you’re seeing those leadership qualities on the court, too. He’s setting guys up, telling them where to go (things he won’t get credit for) and helping the team succeed. Especially with no Tatum, the trades they made, and a different roster from their NBA Finals run, he’s taken a big leadership step.

    Who do you think will have the East’s best record during the home stretch? – from Corbin in Mentor, OH

    I think Detroit will keep leading the way. They’ve figured out how to win, been number one almost the whole year, and I think they’ll keep rolling. Cade Cunningham is bringing a certain pace that always allows him to be special because nobody can speed him up. He usually makes the right decision for whatever the moment calls for.

    Hey Jamal! As a former Wolves player, how far do you think Ant Man and Minnesota go this year? – from Julian in Minneapolis, MN

    That’s a great question. The West is loaded with Denver, OKC, Houston, and the Spurs. I could see the Wolves making a run to maybe the West semifinals. But it won’t just be on Ant. As Jaden McDaniels continues to evolve his scoring, that’ll be a huge punch for them in the playoffs.

    Cleveland is coming out hot right after the major trade with LA. What do you think about the instant chemistry the team has with Harden, and what is the ceiling for this team? – from Faidzul in Malaysia

    When Harden goes to teams, historically, they get a jolt of energy right away. So this is kind of par for the course for how that goes. They’re definitely playing with great chemistry faster than expected. But I’m not sure how far they’ll go. I think they’ll be really good in the regular season, but as things tighten up in the playoffs, that’s where I get a little concerned.

    Are the Pistons this year’s Thunder team? Do you see them making a run to the NBA Finals? – from Deven in New York, NY

    They can absolutely make a run to the Finals. They’ve been consistent all year, even when people have been out. Someone always steps up, and Cade anchors the middle of everything. But if we’re talking this year’s Thunder, I think that belongs to the Spurs.

    Who had the deepest bag for a big man you have ever defended against? – from Logan in Stuart, FL

    I’ll go with three guys I had to defend on switches at different times: Chris Webber, Kevin Garnett, and Rasheed Wallace.

    Rasheed was one of the first bigs to shoot deep threes consistently. Garnett had incredible footwork that he learned from Kevin McHale. And Chris Webber could go slow to quick really, really fast. He would go slow, do a quick spin, and then reverse dunk.

    All three were special in different ways.

    Of the younger players in the league, under five years of experience, who are your favorite ball handlers? – from Michael in Madison, WI

    I’ll go with Rob Dillingham and Dylan Harper.

    Who has the best hesi in the league? Current player and a player you played with/against. – from Jay in Dallas, TX

    Same person: Kevin Durant. His hesitation jumper, hesitation blow‑by, and hesitation crossover all look identical. So you don’t know which one he’s going to use. He’s just reading you. Whatever decision you make is the wrong one.

    Since Chris Paul just retired, do you have any special memories of playing against him and with him? – from Nate’le’ge in Chicago, IL

    Chris was always the heart and soul of our team. Very few people I’ve ever met in life love basketball as much as he does. Always improving, always driven. Our friendship was deeply connected through basketball, if that makes sense. You would think, “Oh, you guys played together, of course.” But both of our loves for the game gave us a real connection that very few people could truly understand unless you love the game like that. He’s one of the best ever, and it was an honor to play with him.

    What’s it like being part of the NBA on NBC and Peacock crew? More importantly, what’s it like working with legends like Carmelo and Vince? – from Marvin on Facebook

    Working with Carmelo and Vince and T-Mac and Reggie and all these great people is so cool because I’m a fan of all of them, watched them, played against them. So the conversations off-camera are the best ones. We talk about all types of stuff. We have a group chat called “Hoops Savants” with all these basketball minds in it, and we debate everything from a very deep-rooted, highest-level of basketball type of place. So it’s really cool. And it could be about anything basketball.

    Being on NBA on NBC is surreal. I never thought I’d be working here. That was the soundtrack of our childhood with Bob Costas, Marv Albert, Michael Jordan, and slow-mo promos. It shaped our basketball dreams.

    How is it possible that you were never voted to an All-Star team? Did you ever use that as motivation the following season? – from Matt on X

    I don’t know how. I thought I’d make 2 or 3. I sacrificed by coming off the bench, and they asked you to sacrifice, but don’t reward you for it. If I had put up the same numbers as a starter, then I would have made it. But I had my peers’ respect and that was more important. I thought it was really cool when guys like Barkley or Kobe would say I should be an All-Star.

    As the master of the 4-point play, what is your secret to staying balanced and focused when initiating contact on those jump shots? – from Kaydin in Australia 

    I always focused on getting the shot off. I could feel when contact was coming and shoot through it. Once the ball was gone, they couldn’t block it. The hardest part was actually the free throw after because you already made the hard shot, now you better make the easy one.

    If you could play for any team right now, who would it be? – from Carolyn in Jamaica, NY

    The Spurs. The culture is great, tons of playmakers and defenders, and then you have that alien back there who changes everything.

    Your game always felt like storytelling, setups, misdirection, and plot twists. When you were cooking someone, did it feel like art to you? – from Stacey in Atlanta, GA

    Absolutely. I’ve always viewed myself as an artist with a blank canvas. Everything was about collecting data. If a move didn’t work, I’d set it up differently next time. I wanted it to feel different than just watching a basketball player. Kyrie has that same kind of thing, where it feels like it’s a little bit different than just basketball. That’s what made the game unique when I was growing up watching my favorites. My inspirations, like Magic or Jordan or Isiah Thomas or Allen Iverson, all brought something artistic to the game.

    What’s more fun … being a player or an analyst? – from Peter in Illinois

    Coaching. I love analyzing the game and breaking it down. As a player, there’s no joy like it. I’ve done that my whole life … I’m actually about to go play after this. So I’m still connected. But coaching challenges your mind in real time. You have to adjust. And I get to coach my son. That’s the best part.

    Have you ever been in a commercial? – from James in Duluth, GA

    I’ve been in a few commercials. I was in a Reebok commercial about a jump shot — Allen Iverson was doing the voiceover and was in it as well. I was also in a commercial with Jay‑Z when he dropped S.Carter. And I was in a commercial with Michael Jordan where he picked me to play the younger version of him.

    For someone chasing greatness in their craft, what mindset kept you elite for 20 years in the league? – from David in Orlando, FL

    I was always chasing, never satisfied. I never stopped to say, “Oh gosh, look what I just did.” I always had a rule that if I had a really good game, I enjoyed it that night and the next day it was over. If I had a bad game, I beat myself up that night, watched film, and the next day I had to let it go.

    So for me, instead of trying to enjoy every single win that came along, I would try to run, run, run, run, and look back like, “Oh, I came a long ways. All right. Keep climbing.” When you stack days like that, you grow. That was my mindset.

    As someone heavily involved with the AAU scene, would you say the extra mileage players are getting in their youth from AAU has been a direct cause of more injuries in these newer draft classes? And if yes, do you have any ideas on what can be done to limit the wear and tear on players competing in AAU? – from Noah in Fullerton, CA

    At times, yes. Growing up, especially up through 8th grade, players sometimes play 4–6 games in two days, every weekend. That naturally creates wear and tear. I remember in 6th and 7th grade, I think we played around 100 games … longer than an NBA season.

    We eventually cut that down. After each season, I talked with our program director and we reduced the number of games from 100 to 70, then 70 to 50, and now around 30 total.

    We replaced games with more practices and development, which is way healthier. In high school now, we don’t start AAU until after the school season ends, so that also leads to fewer AAU games.

    This upcoming year will be my first chance to play in front of scouts and it will be my junior year of high school. What should my mentality be? School and team first or my personal career? – from Hayden in Southaven, MS

    School and team first. Always. But you should also take your personal development seriously. That means stretching, running, getting shots up, staying in shape, and improving individually.

    But that individual work has to flow into the team concept. College scouts aren’t judging you on scoring 30, because you probably won’t score 30 at the next level. They want to see if you can play with other good players. That’s when players really get noticed.

    Little things matter, like going hard in the layup lines and being very coachable. Those details really catch a scout’s eye.

    Have A Question For Jamal? Submit It Now!

  • Recap: Nikola Jokić drops 30 as Nuggets beat Celtics

    Recap: Nikola Jokić drops 30 as Nuggets beat Celtics

    Nikola Jokić led the Nuggets over the Celtics in the second half of our ESPN doubleheader.

    What we know about Wednesday’s games:

    • The Pistons beat the Thunder 124-116 in the first half of our national TV doubleheader, as Cade Cunningham (29 pts, 13 ast) and Jalen Duren (29 pts, 15 reb) outlasted Jaylin Williams (30 pts, 11 reb, 4 ast).
    • The Nuggets defeated the Celtics 103-84, running away in the second half to defend home court in the nightcap.
    • The Spurs won their 10th game in a row, coming back from 15 down to defeat the Raptors 110-107 on the road.

    FEBRUARY 26 // 12:48 ET

    Wednesday’s results

    Alperen Sengun (26 pts, 13 reb, 11 ast, 2 stl, 3 blk) is your top performer of the night.

    FEBRUARY 26 // 12:38 ET

    Nuggets defeat Celtics

    103-84, with Nikola Jokić putting up 30 points and 12 rebounds in the victory.

    The Celtics went cold in the second half, putting up just 36 points in the Denver altitude as their shooting percentage dropped to 34.9% for the game. Jaylen Brown had 23 points and 11 rebounds to lead Boston.

    Denver shot 41.9%, including 5-of-9 shooting from Tim Hardaway Jr., who put up 14 points to become Denver’s second-leading scorer. Spencer Jones was the top man for Denver with a +22 mark.

    “They were very physical at the point of attack,” said Coach Joe Mazzulla afterwards. “They defended us well.”

    FEBRUARY 26 // 12:12 ET

    Nuggets take control

    85-70 with 7:45 to go in Denver, as the Nuggets have outscored the Celtics by 16 points in the second half.

    FEBRUARY 25 // 11:13 ET

    Celtics up one at the half

    48-47 on ESPN.

    Derrick White has 18 points to pace the Celtics, while Nikola Jokić (13 pts, 6 reb, 3 ast) is doing his traditional thing.

    The Celtics held Denver to 34% shooting in the first half, but only shot 41% themselves. Two good teams going at it.

    Catch the finish to cap your night.

    FEBRUARY 25 // 10:48 ET

    The Joker at work

    Celtics-Nuggets, live now on ESPN.

    FEBRUARY 25 // 10:40 ET

    Rockets beat Kings

    128-97, as Alperen Sengun (26 pts, 13 reb, 11 ast) dropped a triple-double for Houston.

    Russell Westbrook had 22 points as he led the Kings against former teammate Kevin Durant.

    FEBRUARY 25 // 10:20 ET

    Bucks beat Cavaliers by a fingertip

    Kevin Porter Jr. (20 pts, 8 reb, 5 ast, 5 stl) was the top man for the Bucks, who had seven players score in double figures as they beat the Cavaliers 118-116.

    Jarrett Allen’s game-tying hook was ruled to have come after the buzzer, preserving Milwaukee’s second straight win. The Bucks have won eight of their last 10.

    “Came down to the final fingertips, quite literally,” said Lisa Byington to wrap up the affair.

    FEBRUARY 25 // 10:13 ET

    Spurs come back to defeat Raptors

    110-107, securing their 10th win in a row.

    Devin Vassell (21 pts, 5 3PM) led six Spurs in double figures, while Victor Wembanyama (12 pts, 8 reb, 5 blk, 1 stl) did a bit of everything in holding down the middle.

    Brandon Ingram (20 pts, 11 reb) and Immanuel Quickley (20 pts, 3 3PM) led the way for Toronto.

    The Spurs won the fourth quarter 32-17 on the road to secure the victory.

    FEBRUARY 25 // 10:00 ET

    Close games abound

    Spurs-Raptors, Cavs-Bucks and Thunder-Pistons are all within a few baskets as the clock winds down.

    Check out the games!

    FEBRUARY 25 // 9:22 ET

    KPJ on the rise

    Over his last three games, Kevin Porter Jr. has averaged 26.0 ppg, 8.0 ast and just 1.0 turnovers for the Bucks.

    He’s staked them to a 73-65 lead over the Cavaliers with 8:51 to go in the third quarter, as Milwaukee goes on an 11-2 run.

    FEBRUARY 25 // 9:06 ET

    Thunder down

    Isaiah Joe and Brandon Carlson have been ruled out for the Thunder as they face the Pistons, meaning the defending champions are now down nine players, including three of their top four bigs.

    How will this deep Oklahoma City team adjust? Tune in to ESPN to find out.

    FEBRUARY 25 // 8:31 ET

    Good job, GG

    FEBRUARY 25 // 8:25 ET

    Spurs and Raptors in a good one

    41-40 Raptors with 7:45 to go in the second quarter, as No. 5 in the East takes on No. 2 in the West.

    Dylan Harper has 11 points to lead San Antonio, while Scottie Barnes has 9 to counter for Toronto, as well as this sick chasedown swat.

    FEBRUARY 25 // 7:50 ET

    Pistons rolling early

    Check out the dime from Cade Cunningham, No. 4 on the latest Kia MVP Ladder.

    FEBRUARY 25 // 6:30 ET

    Watch out for the Celtics

    The Celtics’ best plays from the last 10 games.

    Joe Mazzulla’s Boston Celtics are 9-1 in their last 10, as they incorporate new arrival Nikola Vučević into a multifaceted group featuring a variety of breakout players.

    Mazzulla’s Celtics are third in net rating (+8.0), second in offensive rating (120.0), third in second chance points (17.4), second in shooting percentage on drives (52.5%), first in pull-up points per game (31.1) and first in screen assists per game (9.9).

    Neemias Queta, Hugo González, Jordan Walsh, Ron Harper Jr. and Luka Garza have all found new roles in the NBA this season, but the Celtics are still flowing, as they form a coherent supporting cast behind Kia MVP candidate Jaylen Brown (29.2 ppg), Payton Pritchard and Derrick White, posting the second-best net rating by a bench in the league (3.6).

    They get the third-greatest percentage of their points from 3-pointers (40.1%) while shooting the second-best percentage in the league in the paint (71.7%) — classic modern offense.

    The Celtics keep the ball hopping, maintain near-immaculate spacing, and know their roles intimately.

    Brown and Pritchard win one-on-one matchups and create advantages; White fills the gaps; Queta and Vučević finish around the rim; González, Walsh and Harper Jr. provide defensive hustle and 3-point shooting.

    FEBRUARY 25 // 5:45 ET

    Welcome to a six-game night in the NBA!

    Jamal Murray and the Nuggets take on the Celtics in the second half of tonight’s ESPN doubleheader.

    Our slate tonight is headlined by an ESPN doubleheader featuring four of the best teams in the Association! We’ve got Thunder-Pistons (7:30 ET) and Celtics-Nuggets (10 ET).

    Here’s tonight’s complete schedule:

     

  • Live Updates: Jaylen Brown’s Celtics face Nikola Jokić’s Nuggets on ESPN

    Live Updates: Jaylen Brown’s Celtics face Nikola Jokić’s Nuggets on ESPN

    Kevin Durant and the Houston Rockets are hosting the Sacramento Kings on League Pass.

    What we know about Wednesday’s games:

    • The Pistons beat the Thunder 124-116 in the first half of our national TV doubleheader, as Cade Cunningham (29 pts, 13 ast) and Jalen Duren (29 pts, 15 reb) outlasted Jaylin Williams (30 pts, 11 reb, 4 ast).
    • Now, it’s Celtics-Nuggets (10 ET) on ESPN.
    • The Spurs won their 10th game in a row, coming back from 15 down to defeat the Raptors 110-107 on the road.

    FEBRUARY 25 // 10:48 ET

    The Joker at work

    Celtics-Nuggets, live now on ESPN.

    FEBRUARY 25 // 10:20 ET

    Bucks beat Cavaliers by a fingertip

    Kevin Porter Jr. (20 pts, 8 reb, 5 ast, 5 stl) was the top man for the Bucks, who had seven players score in double figures as they beat the Cavaliers 118-116.

    Jarrett Allen’s game-tying hook was ruled to have come after the buzzer, preserving Milwaukee’s second straight win. The Bucks have won eight of their last 10.

    “Came down to the final fingertips, quite literally,” said Lisa Byington to wrap up the affair.

    FEBRUARY 25 // 10:13 ET

    Spurs come back to defeat Raptors

    110-107, securing their 10th win in a row.

    Devin Vassell (21 pts, 5 3PM) led six Spurs in double figures, while Victor Wembanyama (12 pts, 8 reb, 5 blk, 1 stl) did a bit of everything in holding down the middle.

    Brandon Ingram (20 pts, 11 reb) and Immanuel Quickley (20 pts, 3 3PM) led the way for Toronto.

    The Spurs won the fourth quarter 32-17 on the road to secure the victory.

    FEBRUARY 25 // 10:00 ET

    Close games abound

    Spurs-Raptors, Cavs-Bucks and Thunder-Pistons are all within a few baskets as the clock winds down.

    Check out the games!

    FEBRUARY 25 // 9:22 ET

    KPJ on the rise

    Over his last three games, Kevin Porter Jr. has averaged 26.0 ppg, 8.0 ast and just 1.0 turnovers for the Bucks.

    He’s staked them to a 73-65 lead over the Cavaliers with 8:51 to go in the third quarter, as Milwaukee goes on an 11-2 run.

    FEBRUARY 25 // 9:06 ET

    Thunder down

    Isaiah Joe and Brandon Carlson have been ruled out for the Thunder as they face the Pistons, meaning the defending champions are now down nine players, including three of their top four bigs.

    How will this deep Oklahoma City team adjust? Tune in to ESPN to find out.

    FEBRUARY 25 // 8:31 ET

    Good job, GG

    FEBRUARY 25 // 8:25 ET

    Spurs and Raptors in a good one

    41-40 Raptors with 7:45 to go in the second quarter, as No. 5 in the East takes on No. 2 in the West.

    Dylan Harper has 11 points to lead San Antonio, while Scottie Barnes has 9 to counter for Toronto, as well as this sick chasedown swat.

    FEBRUARY 25 // 7:50 ET

    Pistons rolling early

    Check out the dime from Cade Cunningham, No. 4 on the latest Kia MVP Ladder.

    FEBRUARY 25 // 6:30 ET

    Watch out for the Celtics

    The Celtics’ best plays from the last 10 games.

    Joe Mazzulla’s Boston Celtics are 9-1 in their last 10, as they incorporate new arrival Nikola Vučević into a multifaceted group featuring a variety of breakout players.

    Mazzulla’s Celtics are third in net rating (+8.0), second in offensive rating (120.0), third in second chance points (17.4), second in shooting percentage on drives (52.5%), first in pull-up points per game (31.1) and first in screen assists per game (9.9).

    Neemias Queta, Hugo González, Jordan Walsh, Ron Harper Jr. and Luka Garza have all found new roles in the NBA this season, but the Celtics are still flowing, as they form a coherent supporting cast behind Kia MVP candidate Jaylen Brown (29.2 ppg), Payton Pritchard and Derrick White, posting the second-best net rating by a bench in the league (3.6).

    They get the third-greatest percentage of their points from 3-pointers (40.1%) while shooting the second-best percentage in the league in the paint (71.7%) — classic modern offense.

    The Celtics keep the ball hopping, maintain near-immaculate spacing, and know their roles intimately.

    Brown and Pritchard win one-on-one matchups and create advantages; White fills the gaps; Queta and Vučević finish around the rim; González, Walsh and Harper Jr. provide defensive hustle and 3-point shooting.

    FEBRUARY 25 // 5:45 ET

    Welcome to a six-game night in the NBA!

    Jamal Murray and the Nuggets take on the Celtics in the second half of tonight’s ESPN doubleheader.

    Our slate tonight is headlined by an ESPN doubleheader featuring four of the best teams in the Association! We’ve got Thunder-Pistons (7:30 ET) and Celtics-Nuggets (10 ET).

    Here’s tonight’s complete schedule:

     

  • The Athletic: Dwyane Wade: These are the three best leaders I played with in the NBA

    The Athletic: Dwyane Wade: These are the three best leaders I played with in the NBA

    Dwyane Wade played 16 years in the NBA, including 15 with the Miami Heat.

    Dwyane Wade played 16 years in the NBA, including 15 with the Miami Heat.

    Editor’s Note: Read more NBA coverage from The Athletic here. The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the NBA or its teams. 

    This story is part of Peak, The Athletic’s desk covering the mental side of sports. 

    Dwyane Wade played 16 years in the NBA and was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2023. He is now an NBA analyst for Amazon Prime.

    Pat Riley

    He set the standard for us. He taught us the importance of accountability. When you play on a team, you have to have accountability to each other. And that accountability to each other starts with accountability individually.

    To be successful, to raise that trophy and one day call yourself a champion, you have to learn what accountability looks like. And it has to be every day.

    To learn that as a rookie was very important to me.

    Where Pat was great was his attention to detail. That’s something I try to pride myself on, even now.

    In practice — pardon my French – he was a motherf—er. He made sure that each play was run to perfection. The details. You were not able to mess up a play and move on to the next, no matter if it was the first unit or the third unit. Everyone in the gym understood that we couldn’t be perfect, but we were going to get as close to perfect as possible.

    Because when you’re in a game, you’ve got 20,000 in the stands, people are booing you, the lights are bright, the game needs to be seamless. It’s not something you need to think about. We ran things over and over and over until we got it. We could make sure at least that was right.

    In practice, he was wild. He was a different coach during games.

    A lot of times, as a player, your mind, your emotions, your anxiety are all over the place. You make a couple of mistakes, and you start overthinking. He was that calm factor. Every time I went over to him during a game, he laid his hands on me and just gave me a calm feeling and reset me.

    I realized that when you come to the bench after the other team goes on a 10-0 run and the crowd on the road is going wild, you need that calming influence. That’s who he was.

    Shaquille O’Neal

    He was an incredible leader for me from the first moment he got traded to Miami in 2004. The first conversation we had was about what had happened in Los Angeles with Kobe Bryant and what could not happen here in Miami.

    He just let me know right away: “This is your team. I’m your big brother. I’m here to back you up.”

    He was in a totally different place in his career and what he wanted from his experience in Miami. I think he recognized in me what I had, but that it needed to be pulled out. I wasn’t there yet.

    He showed me the ropes. He showed me how to be a superstar on the court and off the court. He even gave me the nickname “Flash.” He sat down and talked to me about authenticity and making sure that my DNA was in everything that I did. It changed the way I went into meetings, it changed the way I thought about my brand and myself.

    The one thing I loved about Shaq: Everything we did, we did together, but he made sure he took care of everyone. He took care of the limousine outside. He took care of the restaurant bill. He took care of everything. And when we went out, he would be like: “We’re going out for an hour and a half. We’re not staying out all night.” I thought that was very important, especially as a young guy coming in.

    He allowed us to enjoy ourselves, but he was on us about how we did it, and he also made sure we were all together doing it.

    He really set the table for me as a young guy.

    Udonis Haslem

    It’s easier for guys who are the No. 1 option and the star on the team to be the voice. It’s automatic a lot of times.

    UD was never one of the top guys when it came to stardom, but he still had the loudest voice in the locker room. When he talked, everyone listened because we knew it wasn’t coming from a selfish place at all. It was coming from a guy who would literally give everything in his body for you on whatever play. He would take fines for you. He was making the least amount of money as an undrafted guy, but he didn’t care.

    He made sure that the rules Pat Riley set down were followed by everyone in the locker room. Even when LeBron James and Chris Bosh came, nothing changed.

    UD and I got into it multiple times. It ain’t like I wanted to hear it every time. But he knew that he could get on me. He knew that I would respond in the right way.

    He understood what I wanted from my career, and when he didn’t see me doing that or providing the things I said I wanted to do, then he held me accountable.

    We talked about that. We talked about the ability to get on each other and not be sensitive about it. We knew we wanted the same things out of it, and we were trying to reach the same goal.

    — As told to Jayson Jenks

    ***

    By: Dwyane Wade

  • Live Updates: Jared McCain’s Thunder take on Cade Cunningham’s Pistons on a six-game night

    Live Updates: Jared McCain’s Thunder take on Cade Cunningham’s Pistons on a six-game night

    Cade Cunningham’s Pistons take on the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder to open our ESPN doubleheader.

    What we know about Wednesday’s games:

    • Our ESPN doubleheader features Thunder-Pistons (7:30 ET) and Celtics-Nuggets (10 ET).
    • Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley, Draymond Green and Chet Holmgren are out. James Harden is questionable. Jamal Murray is probable. Scottie Barnes is available.

    FEBRUARY 25 // 6:30 ET

    Watch out for the Celtics

    The Celtics’ best plays from the last 10 games.

    Joe Mazzulla’s Boston Celtics are 9-1 in their last 10, as they incorporate new arrival Nikola Vučević into a multifaceted group featuring a variety of breakout players.

    Mazzulla’s Celtics are third in net rating (+8.0), second in offensive rating (120.0), third in second chance points (17.4), second in shooting percentage on drives (52.5%), first in pull-up points per game (31.1) and first in screen assists per game (9.9).

    Neemias Queta, Hugo González, Jordan Walsh, Ron Harper Jr. and Luka Garza have all found new roles in the NBA this season, but the Celtics are still flowing, as they form a coherent supporting cast behind Kia MVP candidate Jaylen Brown (29.2 ppg), Payton Pritchard and Derrick White, posting the second-best net rating by a bench in the league (3.6).

    They get the third-greatest percentage of their points from 3-pointers (40.1%) while shooting the second-best percentage in the league in the paint (71.7%) — classic modern offense.

    The Celtics keep the ball hopping, maintain near-immaculate spacing, and know their roles intimately.

    Brown and Pritchard win one-on-one matchups and create advantages; White fills the gaps; Queta and Vučević finish around the rim; González, Walsh and Harper Jr. provide defensive hustle and 3-point shooting.

    FEBRUARY 25 // 5:45 ET

    Welcome to a six-game night in the NBA!

    Jamal Murray and the Nuggets take on the Celtics in the second half of tonight’s ESPN doubleheader.

    Our slate tonight is headlined by an ESPN doubleheader featuring four of the best teams in the Association! We’ve got Thunder-Pistons (7:30 ET) and Celtics-Nuggets (10 ET).

    Here’s tonight’s complete schedule:

     

  • Cowboys K Brandon Aubrey denies he’s seeking nearly $10 million per year in free agency: ‘Fake’

    Dallas Cowboys kicker Brandon Aubrey would like you to not believe everything you read about his NFL free agency.

    The three-time Pro Bowler denied recent claims he is asking for an unprecedented sum as a restricted free agent on Tuesday. The previous day, there had been a wave of reports that his camp had turned down an offer from the Cowboys valued at a kicker record $7.5 million per year and was instead seeking close to $10 million.

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    The denial came via comment on an Instagram post of the Cowboys-affiliated 105.3 The Fan, in which the hosts were discussing the report from Calvin Watkins of the Dallas Morning News and largely doubting Aubrey was worth such a market-resetting deal.

    The single-word comment from Aubrey’s account: “Fake.”

    Aubrey’s wife Jenn also responded to a different IG post with a similar response: “False.”

    Those denials are the latest twists in the Cowboys’ efforts to retain the top kicker in the NFL. It’s already clear Aubrey will exceed the record for kicker money currently held by Harrison Butker of the Kansas City Chiefs at $6.4 million. The question is by how much.

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    Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones said earlier this week that negotiations have been “a journey” since their beginning before the 2025 season:

    “We’ve been in talks with Aubrey since before the season started. That’s been a journey. We haven’t been able to get to a point where we can all agree so it hasn’t gotten done, but we’d love to get him done.”

    ARLINGTON, TEXAS - DECEMBER 14: Brandon Aubrey #17 of the Dallas Cowboys walks off the field after the game against the Minnesota Vikings at AT&T Stadium on December 14, 2025 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images)

    Brandon Aubrey’s negotiations with the Cowboys are ongoing. (Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images)

    (Sam Hodde via Getty Images)

    As a restricted free agent, Aubrey’s fate is ultimately still controlled by the Cowboys. ESPN reports the franchise is likely to place a second-round tender on Aubrey, which would give them right of first refusal on any contract he signs with another team and a valuable second-round pick if they decide to let him leave.

    This is one of a few moving parts of the Cowboys’ offseason, with the other big one being the franchise tag they’ll likely place on wide receiver George Pickens.

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    The 30-year-old Aubrey is the NFL’s all-time leader in field goals of at least 60 yards and has made 88.2% of his attempts in his three-year career, one of the highest rates in league history despite leading the NFL in 50-yard kick attempts in each of the past two seasons. His story of going from anonymity as a professional soccer player to star kicker is a great one, but we’ll have to see if it continues in Dallas.

  • ABS challenges cost’ Paul Skenes 4 strikes, including 1 by one-tenth of an inch, in spring training debut

    Paul Skenes is arguably the best pitcher on the planet. The reigning NL Cy Young Award winner is so good that, at times, his stuff makes him even look extraterrestrial.

    Skenes may be an alien, but he lost to a robot on Wednesday during his spring training debut.

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    During the first inning of a 3-1 defeat to the Atlanta Braves, the Pittsburgh Pirates ace missed the strike zone by one-tenth of an inch with a 1-1 curveball that was initially called a strike by home-plate umpire Chris Segal.

    Braves first baseman Matt Olson, known for his disciplined eye, tapped his head, triggering MLB’s new Automatic Ball-Strike (ABS) Challenge System.

    An ABS graphic then showed that Skenes’ pitch was actually a ball but only by the narrowest of measurements. It was just outside, and it was one of four called strikes that Skene threw that were then overturned by the machine, which uses Hawk-Eye technology to monitor the exact location of each pitch, relative to a batter’s strike zone.

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    Olson’s take led to a two-out walk, extending what became a 31-pitch inning.

    Although Skenes didn’t allow a run in the frame, he appeared to lose the groove he started the day on, notably issuing another base on balls after Olson’s.

    “When the season gets rolling, that’s probably not the pitch that you’re going to be challenging, but you’ve got to feel it out a bit,” Olson said, per MLB.com. “I figured, whatever. It was a backdoor sweeper that I felt kind of held up a little bit. I just said, ‘Screw it, let’s rip it and see what happens.’”

    Skenes’ second walk came against Jurickson Profar, who challenged a fastball and won to turn an 0-1 count into an advantageous 1-0 situation.

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    The next batter, Austin Riley, called for a replay after he was caught looking on a 99 mph four-seamer. Turns out that was well above the zone, but Skenes quickly adjusted his placement and fired another laser just below the previous one. That time, he got Riley swinging to end the inning.

    Skenes saw another strike flip to a ball in the second inning and finished with four walks and one earned run allowed in just 2 1/3 innings of action. He did, however, punch out four batters.

    That kind of outing wasn’t necessarily the ramp-up to his World Baseball Classic debut that he was looking for — Skenes, after all, is coming off a terrific 2025 campaign, in which the 23-year-old posted an MLB-best 1.97 ERA.

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    At the moment, Skenes isn’t sweating about the razor-thin margins ABS exposes.

    “Ask me again in June,” he said, according to MLB.com. “Today, that’s how it is. I’ve just got to adjust. … I think it will even out over the course of the season, but ask me in June.”