Tag: NBA

The start of the fantasy basketball playoffs is right around the corner in most leagues. Injuries have made playoff pushes difficult, but there are still some appealing players to target on the waiver wire. Here are six players to consider adding who are still available in the majority of Yahoo leagues.

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Saddiq Bey, New Orleans Pelicans (45% rostered)

The Pelicans may have one of the worst records in the NBA, but they are one of the healthiest teams in the league right now. Zion Williamson returned Tuesday after missing just one game with an ankle injury. Trey Murphy III is back from his shoulder ailment and Dejounte Murray is playing again. The Pelicans don’t own their first-round pick in the 2026 Draft, so they aren’t really incentivized to rest their players to improve their lottery odds.

Even with the Pelicans healthy, Bey is playing heavy minutes. Over their last 11 games, he averaged 33 minutes. That helped him produce 21.5 points, 5.6 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 2.8 3-pointers a night. In what has been a breakout season for him, he looks to be locked into a prominent role. He should be rostered in more than half of leagues.

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Brandin Podziemski, Golden State Warriors (42% rostered)

Stephen Curry is expected to miss at least another week with a knee injury. The star guard sat out the entire month of January and there haven’t been many positive updates regarding his recovery. It might make sense for the Warriors to shut him down if they were out of the playoff picture, but they currently occupy the eighth seed in the Western Conference and aren’t in any real danger of falling out of the Play-In Tournament. Still, with a spot in the tournament likely all but wrapped up, the Warriors could remain cautious with Curry and not bring him back until closer to the playoffs.

Curry being sidelined has opened up added minutes and responsibilities for Podziemski. He has become a valuable fantasy contributor, averaging 15.7 points, 8.2 rebounds, 4.9 assists, 1.0 steals and 1.7 3-pointers over his last nine games. That type of all-around production warrants rostering him in the majority of formats.

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Kyle Filipowski, Utah Jazz (42% rostered)

Keyonte George recently returned from injury for the Jazz. That has been their only positive news lately as their frontcourt continues to drop like flies. Lauri Markkanen is now dealing with a hip injury that will force him to miss a minimum of two weeks. Given how blatant the Jazz have been about trying to improve their lottery odds, it’s possible that we have already seen the last of Markkanen for the season.

Filipowski has remained a regular in this column as the Jazz continue to rule out big men for the season. Over their last seven games, he has averaged 14.0 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 2.3 steals and 0.9 3-pointers. There is no reason that he shouldn’t be rostered in more than half of fantasy leagues.

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Maxime Raynaud, Sacramento Kings (38% rostered)

Raynaud was in this column last week and was only rostered in 38% of leagues, a fact that has not changed. Since then, he has played three games. He produced two double-doubles on his way to averaging 20.0 points and 9.7 rebounds. Across his last nine games, he has recorded 15.8 points and 11.0 rebounds a night, while shooting 60.4% from the field and 87.0% from the free-throw line.

The Kings don’t have much choice but to play Raynaud a lot right now. Dylan Cardwell (ankle) should be out for at least a couple more weeks, so Precious Achiuwa and Drew Eubanks are the only real competition for playing time. Achiuwa is needed more at power forward right now with Keegan Murray (ankle) out, which makes Raynaud even more appealing in fantasy.

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Nique Clifford, Sacramento Kings (27% rostered)

The Kings have the worst record in the NBA for a reason. They entered the season without much of a margin for error. Once injuries set in, things went downhill quickly. In addition to all their missing big men, Zach LaVine (finger) and De’Andre Hunter (eye) are out for the season. This is the time for them to give more opportunities to their younger players, one of which is Clifford.

Clifford has started and played at least 39 minutes in each of the last three games. Going back even further, he has averaged 13.2 points, 4.8 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 2.1 steals and 1.3 3-pointers over his last 13 games. With no shortage of playing time on the horizon, Clifford has a great opportunity to remain productive.

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Brandon Williams, Dallas Mavericks (18% rostered)

Cooper Flagg (foot) has missed eight straight games for the Mavericks. The team is now eight games out of the last spot in the play-in with only 21 games left to play. Their chances of making it are slim, to say the least. Flagg needs to play 16 more games to qualify for the Rookie of the Year Award, which might be the only reason for the team to even consider playing him right now.

One player who is on the rise as the Mavericks continue to rack up losses in Williams, who has averaged 24 minutes over the last 10 games. That helped him average 15.1 points, 3.1 rebounds and 4.6 assists. He is not a good 3-point shooter, making just 23.6% of his attempts from behind the arc for the season. Still, he shoots 47.2% from the field overall. He’s not a must-roster in 10 and 12-team leagues, but he does have appeal in deeper formats.

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. 

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These aren’t the Denver Nuggets.

Not the real Denver Nuggets, anyway.

For all of Nikola Jokić’s greatness and Jamal Murray’s splendor, history tells us that this group can’t typically reach true title-contending status unless Aaron Gordon — a fully healthy Aaron Gordon, more importantly — is on the floor. To that end, the Nuggets appear to be on the verge of a crucial upgrade.

Again.

Per a league source close to Gordon, the veteran forward — who re-aggravated his right hamstring injury on Jan. 23 — is targeting a return in Friday’s home game against the New York Knicks. It remains to be seen if he’ll get the necessary clearance from the Nuggets, who are being understandably cautious here in light of the setback he suffered six weeks ago

Gordon missed 19 games earlier this season with the hamstring injury, then pulled up lame on a routine rebound against the Milwaukee Bucks in his 10th game back and has been sidelined ever since. As such, there is clearly a high level of concern and care being exercised about his return. With the postseason still more than a month away, and the Nuggets (38-24; fifth in the Western Conference) having lost 11 of their last 20 games while also enduring the extended absence of another pivotal player in Peyton Watson (hamstring), the stakes of this choice are incredibly high.

Gordon is merely one of the many Nuggets’ core players to miss significant time this season, with three-time MVP Jokić topping that long list. It should come as no surprise, then, that Gordon has been eager to return for quite some time. The 30-year-old has already missed 39 of Denver’s 62 games after first straining the hamstring on Nov. 21.

During that time, meanwhile, Gordon and the Nuggets were reminded of two harsh realities that have been in direct conflict with one another for months:

1. Hamstrings can be brutal to recover from in the middle of an 82-game regular season.
2. Gordon might be the most important role player in the NBA.

While that “role player” label is often considered a pejorative to a talent of Gordon’s ilk, he has long embraced this crucial role of augmenting the Jokić-Murray dynamic duo and taking the Nuggets to the next level. That was the genius of the trade with the Orlando Magic made by then-Nuggets president of basketball operations Tim Connelly at the deadline in 2021. Connelly was looking for a replacement for the departed Jerami Grant (who left in free agency the summer before) and targeted Gordon as a perfect fit.

After six-plus seasons in Orlando, where Gordon took part in just one playoff series and had mixed results as a primary option in those later years, he asked for a trade before landing in the Mile High City. The Magic had talks with the Minnesota Timberwolves, Portland Trail Blazers and Boston Celtics at that time, with the Celtics known to be Gordon’s top preference. But the Nuggets, who were confident he’d accept this crucial role, won the Gordon sweepstakes by sending Gary Harris, R.J. Hampton and a protected 2025 first-round pick to the Magic (that pick became shooting guard Jase Richardson, who was drafted 25th out of Michigan State and is playing limited minutes in his rookie season).

As I wrote the day before that deal went down, Gordon’s ability to guard so many positions on the floor — and to guard elite wing scorers, specifically — was the driving force behind Denver’s interest. The Nuggets pored over that data at the time, taking notice of how well he’d defended stars like Luka Dončić, LeBron James, Kawhi Leonard, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Kevin Durant. Gordon topped the list of available players who had a chance to slow those kinds of future Hall of Famers. What’s more, Denver was just 13th in defensive rating at the time and in desperate need of a solution on that end.

Sound familiar? The Nuggets now find themselves in a similar spot, with a defense that has fallen to 21st in the league and the harsh reality that champions don’t often have that defensive profile. Even if, as is the case, they currently boast the league’s top offense.

When Denver won the franchise’s only title in 2023, the Nuggets were fifth in offensive rating and 15th in defensive rating. Yet since the 1996-97 campaign, only one other team has won a title with a defensive rating outside of the top 11 (the Los Angeles Lakers, in the 2000-01 season, were 22nd). Of the 26 other champions in that stretch, 18 had top-five defensive ratings, and eight were between No. 6 and No. 11. This is why it’s imperative that the Nuggets have their most versatile defender available when the games matter most.

Just like last season.

The Nuggets are no strangers to this revelation about Gordon and his incredible impact, as they lost Game 7 of last year’s second-round series against the eventual champion Oklahoma City Thunder, in part, because Gordon was hobbled by a hamstring injury (that was his left one). It was a minor miracle that he played at all in that game, as he was diagnosed with a Grade 2 strain after suffering the injury in Game 6. But Gordon was hardly his aggressive, agile self in the finale (a 125-93 Thunder win), finishing with eight points (on four shots), 11 rebounds, no assists, four turnovers and a minus-9 mark in 25 minutes as a starter.

Fast forward to the present day, and the numbers have continued to confirm the eye test when it comes to Gordon’s value. Denver’s defensive rating with him this season (108.9 points allowed per 100 possessions) would qualify as the league’s second-best. That mark is also 8.2 points better than when Gordon is off the floor (117.1 allowed). Ditto for Denver’s overall effectiveness (14.0 net rating with him, and just 1.9 without).

Gordon was playing some of his best offensive basketball before getting hurt (twice) too. He opened the season with the first 50-point game of his career, burying the Golden State Warriors on the road in the process. Gordon was on pace to set a new career high in scoring (currently 17.7 points per game, with his previous high 17.6 in the 2017-18 season with the Magic). He was shooting 3s better than ever, too, with a 40 percent clip from beyond the arc (on 4.6 attempts per) that would qualify as the second-best of his career if he maintained that pace (he’s at 33.4 percent for his career).

All of which is to say that Gordon’s presence might make or break the Nuggets’ entire season.

If he’s able to stay healthy until the end, and if Watson and Cam Johnson (ankle) return soon as well, then it’s easy to see them getting back to their once-dominant ways en route to real title contention. But if not, then it won’t be a mystery why they fell short.

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Sam Amick is a senior NBA writer for The Athletic. He has covered the Association for the better part of two decades while at USA Today, Sports Illustrated, AOL FanHouse and the Sacramento Bee. Follow Sam on Twiiter @sam_amick

Stepback Monday. Throwback Tuesday.

Before NBC’s throwback broadcast tonight for Spurs-Sixers (8 ET | Tap to Watch), Jamal Murray delivered a classic scoring clinic for Denver.

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5 STORIES IN TODAY’S EDITION 🏀

Mar. 3, 2026

Monday Fire: Murray erupts to edge Utah in crunch time, C’s overcome Giannis’ return to stay rolling

Roundup: Rockets quartet combines for 103, Clippers rally in Garland’s debut

Coast 2 Coast Tuesday: A blast from the past meets two young superstars, Suns seek key win at Kings

On League Pass: An emerging Cavs connection faces Cade, Duren and the East-best Pistons

Power Rankings Spotlight: Schuhmann breaks down the Wolves’ recent rise, more Tuesday matchups

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BUT FIRST … ⏰

A stacked slate…

Ten games tip off tonight, headlined by NBC’s throwback broadcast for Spurs at Sixers (8 ET | Tap to Watch), featuring Bob Costas, Doug Collins, Mike Fratello and other notable NBC voices.

Coast 2 Coast Tuesday wraps with the Suns visiting the Kings (8 PT | Tap to Watch).

(New) LeBron Tracker: LeBron James is 11 FGM away from passing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (15,837) for the most in NBA history.

That would make him the all-time leader in points, field goals, 10-pt games, 20-pt games and 30-pt games. To see the historical leaders in FGM, tap here.

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1. MONDAY FIRE: MURRAY POPS OFF, CELTICS SPOIL GIANNIS’ RETURN

On a two-game skid amid a heated West race, the Nuggets entered Monday searching for a spark.

Instead, Jamal Murray delivered a full-blown inferno.

Nuggets 128, Jazz 125: Murray scored 17 in the 1st half, but Denver still found itself down one, with Keyonte George (36 pts, 14-22 FG) feeling it for Utah.

Then Murray leveled up, dropping 28 in the 2nd half while shooting 8-of-10 from the field with five 3s, before sinking the go-ahead free throws with 32 ticks left to give Denver a timely road dub. | Recap

• Golden Hand: Murray finished with 45 points, 8 assists and 8 3s, including 18 points in the 3rd to flip the game
• Denver Duo: Nikola Jokić added 22 points, 12 boards and 5 dimes, as he and Murray scored Denver’s final 16 points to outduel George in a back-and-forth finish
• Big Buckets: It’s Murray’s seventh career 45+ point game, matching Carmelo Anthony for the 3rd-most in Nuggets history, while trailing only Jokić (12) and Alex English (8)

Bigger Picture: Two of Murray’s seven 45-point outings have come this season – coinciding with his first All-Star nod – as he’s averaging career highs in points (25.7), rebounds (4.4), assists (7.3), and field goal percentage (48.4).

• The Murray Effect: The leap has Denver posting an NBA-best 120.5 ppg, despite missing Jokić for 16 outings, as the Nuggets sit just one game back of Houston for 3rd in the West
• “It was a Jamal night,” said Nuggets coach David Adelman postgame. “I love these nights because he has these in him. He can take over a game … and that’s what we needed.”

Giannis is back, but the C’s refuse to slow down.

Celtics 108, Bucks 81: After missing 5+ weeks with a calf strain, Giannis Antetokounmpo made his presence felt right away, powering his way to the rack early en route to 19 points and 11 boards in 25 minutes.

But Boston was too much, as Payton Pritchard (25 pts, 9 ast, 5 3s) and rookie Hugo González (18 pts, 16 reb, 3 stl, 2 blk) led six double-digit scorers in a near wire-to-wire win, despite being without Jaylen Brown (illness). | Recap

• C’s Surging: It’s the Celtics’ seventh win in eight games as they improve to an NBA-best 12-2 since Jan. 30
• Winning Both Ways: Boston leads the league in OffRtg this season (120.3). Amid its 12-2 run, its defense has followed suit, allowing an NBA-best 96.4 ppg
• Clamps Of Its Own: That’s nearly 10 points fewer than the next closest team in that span (NYK: 106.07 ppg allowed)

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2. ROUNDUP: ROCKETS CORE COOKS, CLIPS RALLY BACK

In D.C., Houston’s quartet took over to hold 3rd in the West.

Rockets 123, Wizards 118: Alperen Sengun (32 pts, 13 reb) and Kevin Durant (30 pts, 7 reb) combined for 62 points, while Amen Thompson (22 pts, 12 reb) and Reed Sheppard (19 pts, 10 ast, 6 stl, 2 blk) shined on both ends, as the Rockets outpaced the Wiz for their fourth win in five games. | Recap

• Sheppard Spark: It’s a career-high in steals for Sheppard, who is the youngest Rocket to post 15+ pts, 10+ ast, and 5+ stl in a game
• Wild West: At 38-22, Houston is a half-game up on 4th-place Minnesota and one game up on 5th-place Denver

The Clips keep closing the gap in the NBA SoFi Play-In Tournament race out West.

Clippers 114, Warriors 101: After trailing by 17 in the 2nd quarter, Kawhi Leonard scored 15 of his team-high 23 points in the 2nd half, where LA outscored Golden State 72-45 to earn a key comeback dub. | Recap

• Garland’s Debut: In his Clippers debut, Darius Garland tallied 12 pts, 2 reb and 2 ast off the bench, as LA’s reserves scored 52 points
• Benn Boost: That included 17 points and 7 boards from Bennedict Mathurin, who continues to excel with LA, averaging 18.8 ppg with his new team
• Gaining Ground: It’s the Clippers’ second straight win, moving them just 1.5 games back of the Warriors for 8th

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3. COAST 2 COAST TUESDAY: SPURS AT SIXERS THROWBACK, SUNS VISIT KINGS

Tonight (8 ET), a blast from the past meets two teams – and stars – shaping the now.

NBC turns back the clock when the Spurs visit the Sixers, featuring a vintage broadcast led by Bob Costas, Doug Collins, Mike Fratello and other classic NBC voices from the 1990s and early 2000s.

But this is more than a throwback – it’s a duel between two Playoff contenders led by young superstars, catapulting their franchises forward.

• Then: At the turn of the century, the Spurs and Sixers were defined by rising generational talents – Tim Duncan and Allen Iverson – one a steady anchor, the other an electrifying guard
• Now: Those contrasting blueprints are back, with a transcendent big leading San Antonio in Victor Wembanyama and a lightning bolt jolting Philly in Tyrese Maxey

Full Circle: Wemby and Maxey aren’t just following legendary footsteps – they’re matching record production, joining the stars who came before them.

• The Alien Fundamental: Last Thursday, Wemby became the first player since Duncan to record 1,000+ points, 500+ rebounds and 125+ blocks through the first 45 games of a season
• The Answer Maxed: That same night, Maxey passed Iverson for the most 3s in Sixers history. They are now the only Sixers to tally 1,600+ points and 115+ steals through the first 58 games of a season
• “AI is someone we’ve all looked up to,” said Maxey on Thursday. “Who I’ve looked up to being a small guard. To be able to pass him in anything in basketball – that’s cool.”

The parallels run deeper, showing up not just in numbers, but in style and impact.

• Turbo Charged: This season, Maxey leads the league in fast break points and points off turnovers – categories Iverson also topped in 2000-01 en route to the Kia MVP
• Anchor Excellence: That same year, San Antonio led the league in DefRtg with Duncan manning the middle
• Another Force: This season, the Spurs rank 3rd in DefRtg (110.5). With Wemby on the floor, that number improves to 105.3 – a figure that would top OKC’s NBA-best 106.1 DefRtg

That impact has translated to wins.

After missing the postseason last year, both teams are back in the Playoff picture, with San Antonio holding 2nd out West and Philly sitting 6th in the East.

Like Duncan and Iverson, both teams’ stars are driven by the same goal.

• “I just want to win,” said Maxey in January. “I leave it all out on the court every single night. That’s the legacy I want to leave behind.”
• “Winning is so important to me,” said Wemby last month. “It’s just how I’m built … I’ll do whatever it takes.”

The second leg of NBC’s Coast 2 Coast Tuesday brings more Playoff implications as the West’s 7th-place Suns seek a timely win in Sacramento (10 PT).

• Hanging Tough: Despite being without Devin Booker (since Feb. 10) and Dillon Brooks (since Feb. 21) for multiple games, Phoenix has held firm in 7th, just 2 games back of the Lakers for the final guaranteed Playoff spot
• Stepping Up: They’ve done it with Grayson Allen (23 | 3 GP), Collin Gillespie (16.2) and Jalen Green (15.4) combining for 54.6 ppg over the last five outings
• Calling Card: Phoenix’s top-10 defense continues to set the tone, holding each of its last four opponents to 110 points or fewer, capped by a last-second win against the Lakers

Now, the Suns will look to knock off another West foe in Sacramento, which has earned two dubs in its last four games.

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4. ON LEAGUE PASS: EAST ELITE COLLIDE IN CLEVELAND

A battle of beasts approaches in the East.

Both sit in the top four of the conference standings, with both teams powered in part by dynamic guard-center duos.

Tonight (7 ET, League Pass), the Pistons and Cavaliers meet at Rocket Arena as 1st- and 4th-place teams, respectively, running back Detroit’s overtime win last Friday. Their sights are equally set on the Playoffs and beyond.

On one side is the All-Star partnership of Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren.

• Pivotal Parts: Cunningham is an elite scorer-facilitator with 25.5 points and 9.8 assists per game, while Duren averages a double-double (18.5 pts, 10.7 reb)
• Well-Oiled Machine: With them both on the floor, Detroit is posting a 123.3 OffRtg, along with a +12.6 NetRtg

• Side Of Jam: The 5th-year guard and 4th-year center entered Monday with 31 alley-oops this season, the most of any duo in the league
• “There’s a lot of them where I’m shocked he goes and gets them,” Cunningham said.
• “He throws me bad passes, for real, for real,” joked Duren. “But I just catch them.”

On the other side is a budding bond between James Harden and Jarrett Allen.

• Sharpened Swords: Cleveland is 7-1 with Harden in the lineup, reaping rewards from the 11-time All-Star’s 24.5 points and 8.1 assists per game this season
• Big-Man Boost: Jarrett Allen had averaged 13.9 ppg this season before Harden’s arrival. But since the Beard’s debut, that mark has improved to 21.5

• Cav Camaraderie: With Harden and Allen on the floor, the Cavs have produced a 123.3 OffRtg, in addition to a +19.5 NetRtg
• “He’s one of the best guards to play with as a big man,” Allen said. “And he just came in and made so many looks of mine easy.”
• “He has so much touch around the rim,” Harden said. “That’s one of the most underrated parts of his game.”

More Heavyweights Meet: Another top-5 East showdown tips off on League Pass (7:30 ET), as the 5th-place Raptors host the 3rd-place Knicks, with New York 14-4 in its last 18 games.

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5. POWER RANKINGS SPOTLIGHT: WOLVES KEEP CLIMBING

The Wolves aren’t just surging up the West standings – they’re also climbing John Schuhmann’s latest Power Rankings.

In the last 22 days, Minnesota has dropped just one game – a stretch fueled not just by a red-hot Anthony Edwards, but by balance and continuity on both ends, writes Schuhmann:

The Wolves went 3-0 on a trip out West last week, climbing into 4th place in the West with their win in Denver on Sunday afternoon. They’ve won six of their last seven games overall and six of their last seven on the road. 

… Their starting lineup has now played 621 minutes together, 152 more than any other lineup in the league. | Read More

Tonight on League Pass (8 ET), Edwards and the Wolves host the Grizzlies, with Minnesota just a half-game back of Houston for 3rd in the West.

Chasing History: Five more games get underway on League Pass, with superstars LeBron James and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander eyeing major milestones.

In Los Angeles, James leads the Lakers against the Pelicans (10:30 ET), entering the night 11 field goals away from passing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (15,837) for the most in NBA history.

In Chicago, the Thunder face the Bulls (8 ET), with SGA seeking his 124th straight 20-point game, which would put him two shy of Wilt Chamberlain’s all-time record (126 straight games).

Meanwhile, the surging Hornets host the Mavs (7 ET), while the Wizards meet the Magic (7 ET) and the Nets visit the Heat (7:30 ET).

The High Score 100 — the top-100 players in Yahoo’s newest fantasy basketball format — is a running reflection of year-to-date performance and trending production. Each weekly update captures who’s actually delivering value and who’s fading.

Here’s a breakdown of the biggest movement as we approach the final two weeks of the regular season — with the complete High Score 100 at the bottom of the article. I’ll be updating my rankings every Tuesday through the start of the fantasy postseason.

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Risers: Late-season surges

Saddiq Bey — FC, New Orleans Pelicans

79th overall (⬆️ 12)

Bey’s comeback has been one of the most underrated storylines of the season. After missing the entire 2024-25 season with a torn ACL, he’s looked better than ever before. Over the last 14 days, he ranks 32nd in High Score, headlined by a 42-point night against Utah on Feb. 26, going 14-20 from the field, 5-9 from 3 and a perfect 9-9 from the line. That’s the second-highest scoring game of his career, and it came with five rebounds and seven assists in 34 minutes. Since the All-Star break, Bey’s averaging 23.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 3.5 assists.

The Pelicans are leaning on him as a secondary scorer with Trey Murphy III sidelined, and Bey’s responding with career-best production. Even though they’re one of the worst teams in the league, he’ll continue to play heavy minutes the rest of the way as the Pelicans are still incentivized to get into the playoffs (even if it’s a long shot).

Brandon Miller — G/FC, Charlotte Hornets

42nd overall (⬆️ 9)

Miller is averaging 39 fantasy points per game and ranks 45th in High Score across the past two weeks. What’s even more impressive is that he’s doing it in under 28 minutes over his last six games. That’s elite per-minute production translating to real fantasy value.

His play earlier in the month earned him Eastern Conference Player of the Week and he’s scored 50+ fantasy points in Weeks 17 and 18. The trio of LaMelo Ball, Kon Knueppel and Miller has recently elevated the Hornets into one of the best teams in basketball.

Charlotte’s suddenly in the playoff mix at 18-8 since Jan. 3 — the fourth-best record in the NBA over that span — and Miller’s ascension is one of the biggest reasons why. He’s a legit top-50 guy in High Score formats right now.

Jalen Duren — FC, Detroit Pistons

34th overall (⬆️ 8)

The first-time All-Star just tied his career-high with 33 points against Cleveland on Feb. 27, adding 16 rebounds and three blocks in a 122-119 overtime win. He’s been cookin’ since the All-Star break, taking on more of a scoring load and cleaning the glass. He’s surprisingly been the Pistons’ leading scorer over the past five games, dropping 25.8 points per game.

Duren is expanding his game beyond lobs and put-backs — and his growth has been pivotal in Detroit becoming the top seed in the East, sporting a 45-14 record entering Tuesday. He’s ranked in the top-10 over the past two weeks in High Score and is trending to be a top-35 guy if this scoring boost holds up.

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Fallers: Post All-Star role changes

Coby White — G, Charlotte Hornets

97th overall (⬇️ 27)

White’s trade home to North Carolina looked good on paper — the former UNC star returning to Charlotte, bringing scoring punch and playmaking off the bench. But the fantasy reality’s been brutal. He’s failed to crack 25 fantasy points in each of his last three games, and the new bench role isn’t giving him anywhere close to the minutes or opportunity he had in Chicago.

With the Bulls, White was averaging 18.6 PPG and 4.7 APG in 30+ minutes as a starter. Now he’s coming off the bench behind Ball and Miller, playing just 16-20 minutes per game in a completely different role.

His debut against his old team said it all: 10 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists in 16 minutes. That’s fine production for a backup, but it’s a massive downgrade for fantasy managers who were getting 30+ minutes of starter production.

Despite being a solid sixth man on a hot team, the role change has completely tanked his value. Suffering a 27-spot drop in the rankings is significant, but the minutes and usage just aren’t there. If you’re in playoff mode and need production now, White’s droppable in most formats.

Nikola Vučević — FC, Boston Celtics

92nd overall (⬇️ 19)

Vuč’s trade to Boston was a good real-life basketball move — for fantasy? I’m not convinced. Since the deadline deal, Vučević’s numbers have cratered.

In Chicago, he was averaging 16.9 PPG and 9.0 RPG in 32+ minutes as the starting center. In Boston through eight games? Just 12 points with 8 boards in 23.7 minutes — and he’s coming off the bench for the first time since his rookie season.

Boston doesn’t need him to be the Vuč of old — they’ve got plenty of high-usage assets to funnel their offensive production through. Plus, Jayson Tatum is coming back soon. The Celtics are 8-2 since the trade, so the team has to be pleased with the way Vuč is adjusting to playing with the second unit. Unfortunately for fantasy managers, he can be dropped since his timeshare with Neemias Queta is stonewalling what’s left of his upside.

Pascal Siakam — FC, Indiana Pacers

37th overall (⬇️ 6)

Siakam is dealing with a left wrist sprain that’s cost him three consecutive games and counting. He’s been listed as doubtful and is expected to miss more time, with his next opportunity to return coming Wednesday against the Clippers. It’s been a rough stretch for the All-Star forward — he also missed games around the All-Star break for personal reasons and dealt with hamstring issues.

When healthy, Siakam’s been one of the few bright spots for Indiana this season, averaging 23.9 PPG, 6.8 RPG, and 3.9 APG while shooting 48.3% from the field and 37.3% from 3. He earned an All-Star nod despite the Pacers sitting in last place, which tells you how good he’s been individually. But availability’s becoming a concern here.

The wrist injury doesn’t have a clear timeline, and with Indiana’s season basically over (15-46 record), there’s zero incentive to rush him back. Outside of High Score, I’d be more concerned about Siakam’s rest schedule, but as long as fantasy managers can get at least one game per week from him, it should lessen the blow. Still, he’s not going to provide third-round value as he has for most of the season.

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Complete High Score 100 rankings

The High Score 100 is a running reflection of year-to-date performance and trending production.

We’re into a new month as the fantasy basketball playoffs loom in a few weeks. This might be your last chance to get a few more wins and sneak into the postseason, unless you’ve done your work already and have clinched a berth.

In the middle of Week 18 of the fantasy basketball season, we had a clash of top teams in both conferences with the Pistons taking on the Thunder. Detroit would come out on top with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander not quite ready to return from injury. However, SGA was able to return the next game for OKC and post 69 fantasy points in a win over the Nuggets. That total wasn’t enough to get him into the perfect lineup. Let’s take a look at the players who were able to make it on and likely helped your fantasy team pick up a W this past week.

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More on the top performers

Cade Cunningham: Cade just edges out Alperen Sengun for the top spot of last week. The Pistons have won five of the past six games since the All-Star break and are still 5.5 games clear of the Boston Celtics for first place in the Eastern Conference as we enter March. Cunningham had his best stretch of play since November, posting four double-doubles in the past five games. His line vs. the Thunder was 29-13-4 with 6 stocks to get to the top of the leaderboard.

Tyrese Maxey: Maxey continues to fill up the score sheet with at least 27 points in each game since the All-Star break. His assist numbers have crept up in that stretch of six games with at least seven dimes in four of those contests. Maxey has been a league-winning type of player all season and should finish out the campaign as such given the Sixers are trying to avoid dropping down to the play-in tourney.

Alperen Sengun: It feels like every so often we get the spike game from the Rockets big man. He’s been much more inconsistent in the second half of the season and is averaging just 46.6 fantasy points over the past 30 days. Still, we know what Sengun is capable of with the triple-double ceiling while being a disruptor on the defensive end. In a blowout win over the Kings, Sengun posted a 26-13-11 triple-double with 5 stocks to just miss the top score overall.

Nikola Jokić: Oddly enough the return of Jokić has not helped the Nuggets as much as we thought. Aaron Gordon’s continued absence has hurt the team and now Cameron Johnson is banged up. Denver is 5-8 since the Joker returned to the lineup back on Jan. 30. Plus, Jokić continues to be pedestrian by his lofty standards for fantasy managers, though that isn’t exactly the same in High Score. He’s at least topped out with high scores of 85, 94 and now 75 over the past three weeks.

Victor Wembanyama: Wemby and the Spurs wrap up a tough five-game road trip on Tuesday against the Sixers before taking on the Pistons again at home. In the last meeting between those two teams, Wemby posted 67 fantasy points to get onto this list with 21-17-4 and 6 blocks in 36 minutes. Wembanyama is starting to play heavier minutes as San Antonio tries to unseat OKC at the top of the West.

Jalen Duren: The Pistons center has battled through injuries most of the season, missing 10 games so far. But when he’s on the court, he’s played at an All-Star level (he was an All-Star for the first time this season). We’d like to see better block totals overall from Duren; he had 3 in a narrow win over the Cavs to go with 33 points, 16 rebounds and 3 assists. If Duren can reach that ceiling more often, he could be pivotal for managers down the stretch.

Luka Dončić: The Lakers wrapped up Week 18 with back-to-back wins over the weekend thanks to some efficient scoring by Luka; he had a total 54 points in 58 minutes spanning the two contests. Despite consistently popping up in this lineup for most of the season, February wasn’t exactly kind to Dončić. He battled through injuries early in the month and through the All-Star break and failed to post a triple-double in nine straight games.

We’re about even this coming week in terms of teams with four- and three-game schedules, with the former slightly outpacing the latter. With a barrage of noteworthy injuries across the league at this point of the season – and non-contending teams in no rush to push key players back onto the floor – we have plenty of candidates to work across all roster spots to work with once again. 

Each week, we’ll aim to highlight a pair of Start candidates at each position for your fantasy rosters who may shape up as some tougher calls of the week to make, focusing on players with a start or roster rate of 50% or less in Yahoo leagues. 

Likewise, we’ll spotlight one Sit candidate at each position who would normally not be a consideration for a spot on your bench, often focusing on players with fewer game opportunities during the coming week.

TEAMS WITH FOUR GAMES: Boston Celtics, Charlotte Hornets, Dallas Mavericks, Detroit Pistons, Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat, Milwaukee Bucks, New Orleans Pelicans, New York Knicks, Orlando Magic, Phoenix Suns, San Antonio Spurs, Utah Jazz, Washington Wizards

TEAMS WITH THREE GAMES: Brooklyn Nets, Chicago Bulls, Denver Nuggets, Golden State Warriors, Indiana Pacers, Memphis Grizzlies, Minnesota Timberwolves, Oklahoma City Thunder, Philadelphia 76ers, Portland Trail Blazers, Sacramento Kings, Toronto Raptors

TEAMS WITH TWO GAMES: Atlanta Hawks, Cleveland Cavaliers

Without further ado, let’s examine some tougher start/sit decisions for Week 20: 

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Guards

Start: Brandon Williams, Mavericks

 18% roster rate

Cooper Flagg missed a seventh consecutive game Sunday against the Thunder, and his absence therefore could very well extend to Tuesday’s contest against the Hornets, at minimum. That means Williams could be set for an additional run of starts after going into the game vs. OKC with averages of 16.0 points, 6.0 assists and 3.2 rebounds across his previous six games, a stretch where he’d also shot 54.8%, including 42.9% from 3-point range. Williams delivered another solid outing despite the tough matchup in the loss to the Thunder, supplying 14 points, three rebounds and three assists. With four games to work with and a potential role on the first unit in all of them, Williams is certainly in play, especially with Naji Marshall also possibly missing some time in coming days because of a finger injury that already cost him Sunday’s contest. 

Start: Ace Bailey, Jazz

34% roster rate

Bailey put together an impressive February, averaging 14.3 points, 6.4 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.1 steals across 32.7 minutes in 11 games despite shooting an inefficient 40.4% and posting a pair of four-point outings in that span. The rookie has gotten an abundance of floor time during his first NBA season, so it’s no surprise he may be finding his stride during the stretch run. Bailey is expected to play all four games this week without Lauri Markkanen due to his hip injury, brightening his prospects even further. 

Sit: Donovan Mitchell, Cavaliers

100% roster rate

Mitchell missed a third straight game Sunday against the Nets due to a groin injury. Even though head coach Kenny Atkinson said recently the issue wasn’t expected to lead to a long-term absence, at least one more DNP could well be in the cards for the star guard. If that indeed comes to pass, that would leave Mitchell with just one other opportunity to take the floor this coming week, and that would come in a tough matchup against the Celtics. Even with his unquestioned upside, Mitchell has plenty of risk attached this week. 

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Forwards

Start: Jaime Jaquez Jr., Heat

39% roster rate

Jaquez has averaged 14.5 points (on 47.9% shooting), 5.3 rebounds and 4.2 assists across 28.1 minutes over the last 15 games, and he enters the Heat’s four-game week in position to potentially run with the first unit because of Norman Powell’s groin injury. Powell is officially week to week, and Jaquez has already proven amply capable of delivering strong multi-category production in a second-unit role. Even if Jaquez continues to come off the bench, he should see more than enough minutes to benefit your lineup through various means while absorbing some extra usage due to Powell’s absence.

Start: Saddiq Bey, Pelicans

45% roster rate

Bey is another forward who could be poised to benefit from a key absence on his squad, considering Zion Williamson sprained his ankle Saturday against the Jazz and missed Sunday’s game against the Clippers. Bey had an adequate line in Zion’s absence Sunday – 14 points, six rebounds and two assists – and he came into the game with averages of 22.4 points (on 48.5% shooting), 5.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists across 33.2 minutes over the previous 11 contests. That included 42- and 24-point showings in the two games immediately prior to Sunday. Bey could capitalize on any further Williamson absences during New Orleans’ upcoming four-game schedule.

ALSO CONSIDER: Tari Eason, Rockets (41% roster rate)

Sit: Pascal Siakam, Pacers

100% roster rate

Siakam is another star dealing with injury coming into the scoring period, as the big man’s wrist issue has already cost him three games. Siakam will have a couple days to get healthy for the Pacers’ next game Wednesday against the Clippers, but with Indiana’s season going nowhere, it’s probably safe to assume the big man won’t be rushed back. There are just three games on the Pacers’ docket this coming week, so rolling with a healthy four-game option certainly involves less uncertainty.

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Centers

Start: Neemias Queta, Celtics

37% roster rate 

Queta wrapped up a solid Week 19 on Sunday against the 76ers with a career-best showing, generating a 27-point, 17-rebound double-double that also included two assists, three blocks and one steal. That memorable showing was preceded by a 14-point, 13-rebound double-double against the Suns on Tuesday that included three assists and two blocks, with the pair of bookend performances offering an impressive glimpse of what the surging center can bring to the table. Even with Nikola Vučević having joined the Celtics at the deadline, Queta has kept a clear hold of the starting job and could continue thriving on Boston’s full schedule.

Start: Kyle Filipowski, Jazz

38% roster rate 

Filipowski, like Bailey, is in position to benefit from Markkanen’s absence, and the big man comes into Week 20 with averages of 14.6 points (on 53.1% shooting), 6.4 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 2.8 steals over his current five-game starting run. Filipowski is averaging a modest 25.8 minutes per game in that span – underscoring how efficient he’s been – and he’ll likely draw another four turns with the first unit in the coming week. Filipowski has plenty of experience as a starter this season, so a week of robust production across the stat sheet is very much in the cards.

ALSO CONSIDER: Bobby Portis, Bucks (35% roster rate)

Sit: Kristaps Porziņģis, Warriors

90% roster rate

Porziņģis’ health issues continue to bedevil him irrespective of what team he suits up for, as he’s already ruled out for a fifth straight game Monday against the Clippers due to an illness. Given his very spotty track record of availability this season, Porziņģis could very well miss the remaining two games on Golden State’s schedule this coming week. Consequently, he’s a very straightforward Sit candidate this week. 

The final full month of the fantasy season has arrived. 

As the race to the playoffs intensifies, it’s crucial for general managers in NBA Fantasy — Salary Cap Edition to make adjustments to their roster. There are plenty of points to be had.

Here’s what you need to know entering Week 20:

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Last week’s story

Wednesday marked a major moment for the Detroit Pistons (45-14). It’s already been a triumphant season for the East’s first-place team, but their contest against the Oklahoma City Thunder (47-15) was an opportunity to certify their modern identity as a title contender. 

And that, they did. The Pistons knocked off the defending champions, 124-116. Both Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren contributed double-doubles en route to 77 and 51 fantasy points, respectively. Together, they’ve averaged 96.1 fantasy points per game (FPPG) this season.

Key contributions also came from Ausar Thompson, who had 44 fantasy points on 11 points scored, four rebounds, seven assists, two blocks and three steals. Duncan Robinson, too, was useful with 28 fantasy points on 16 points scored, three rebounds, three assists and one steal.

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Peak performances

Topping the podium this past week was Cunningham with 77 fantasy points Wednesday in that big-time victory for the Pistons over the Thunder. The two-time All-Star pitched in 29 points scored, four rebounds, 13 assists, three blocks and three steals en route to his fourth consecutive double-double. Few players in fantasy are better than him — he now sits third in the league with 58.2 FPPG and 3086 total fantasy points (TFP).

Alperen Sengun was right on Cunningham’s tail that night. He racked up 76 fantasy points of his own for the Houston Rockets (37-22) in a commanding 128-97 win over the Sacramento Kings (14-48). The fifth-year center delivered 26 points scored, 13 rebounds, 11 assists, three blocks and two steals, earning his third triple-double of the campaign. He hasn’t been one of the most dominant forces in fantasy, but still ranks 13th in the Association with 49.3 FPPG.

Then there was a usual suspect — Nikola Jokić. The three-time MVP tallied 75 fantasy points Sunday despite a 117-108 loss for the Denver Nuggets (37-24) to the Minnesota Timberwolves (38-23). He did it by way of 35 points scored, 13 rebounds, nine assists, two blocks and one steal. Jokić is on the cusp of re-taking the league lead for TFP, as his 3094 aren’t far behind Tyrese Maxey’s 3208. The eight-time All-Star’s 68.7 FPPG, though, remains untouched.

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Global leaderboard

There are six weeks to go until the 2025-26 fantasy season comes to a close. For fantasy general managers who are looking for an edge on their competition down the stretch, lessons can be taken from the global leaders. Melvin Schneider’s ‘GriddyGang’ sits first with 24554 TFP, followed by Tilo Gust’s ‘Blue_Arrow_27’ with 24174 and Adam Boustani’s ‘Dima Maghreb’ with 24128. Those three hail from Germany, Germany and the United Kingdom, respectively.

Several trends exist between these squads. First and foremost, all of them roster the Milwaukee Bucks (26-33) duo of Kevin Porter Jr. and Ryan Rollins. The two talents have stepped up offensively during Giannis Antetokounmpo’s 15-game absence, averaging a combined 90.8 FPPG without him. Porter Jr., in particular, has been big with 49.5 FPPG in that span. Their production will decrease once Antetokounmpo is back in action, so don’t wait to invest in them.

These global leaders also feature Donovan Clingan and Stephon Castle, who have produced 33.6 FPPG for $8.8M and 39.9 FPPG for $10.2M, respectively. Clingan — a second-year center — has dropped 40 or more fantasy points in four of his last six games, and has put up point-rebound double-doubles on an almost-nightly basis. Castle, meanwhile, continues to shine in his sophomore season and has averaged 35.8 FPPG in his last six outings.

Play NBA Fantasy — Salary Cap Edition!

A game-high 26 points to go with 27 candles.

Luka (Birthday) Magic helped the Lakers snap their skid.

Read on for everything to know about this stuffed Sunday of hoops.

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5 STORIES IN TODAY’S EDITION 🏀

Mar. 1, 2026

ABC Doubleheader: Spurs surge into March, MSG; Ant wants the shot in Denver

Sunday Night Basketball: Will Sixers-Celtics rivalry deliver fourth straight thriller?

Saturday’s Standouts: Birthday boy Luka helps Lakers snap skid, Adebayo’s Heat handle Rockets

Roundup: Hornets stay hot, Raptors’ starters roll, Pels take two in Utah

J-Crossover’s Mailbag: Jamal Crawford answers NBA fan questions

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BUT FIRST … ⏰

March starts with a monster 11-game slate…

A packed Sunday brings 11 games across 10 hours, beginning with ABC’s matinee doubleheader.

ABC Doubleheader: Wemby and Spurs start the day in New York against the Knicks (1 ET | Tap To Watch), followed by Ant and the Wolves visiting the Nuggets (3:30 ET | Tap To Watch).

Sunday Night Basketball: With the last three matchups each decided by a single basket, the Sixers and Celtics’ classic rivalry continues to thrill (8 ET on NBC & Peacock | Tap To Watch).

More Classics On Tuesday: NBC/Peacock throws it back to the 90s for Spurs at Sixers (8 ET), featuring notable NBA On NBC voices from the past: Bob Costas, Doug Collins, Mike Fratello and more.

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1. ON ABC: SPURS SURGE INTO MARCH, MSG; ANT READY TO SHOOT IN DENVER

The hottest team in basketball tips off the day, and a new month, looking to extend that unbeaten February feeling.

Spurs at Knicks (1 ET): Winners of 11 straight for the first time in a decade, San Antonio starts ABC’s doubleheader in the second-toughest place to win in the East, New York’s Madison Square Garden, where the Knicks are 22-8 this season.

It’s Victor Wembanyama’s first game at The Garden since Christmas Day 2024, where he gifted a 1-of-1 statline.

• Christmas Callback: Wemby logged 42 points, 18 boards, 6 3s and 4 blocks, becoming the only player in NBA history with such minimums in a game
• The Knicks won that game, with 40 from Mikal Bridges. And while San Antonio has taken the last two regular-season games in the series, Vic is still looking for his first MSG win
• Growing Together: It’ll be a full team effort to get it, as San Antonio has leveled up offensively to lead the league with 124.8 ppg and 31.6 apg in February
• “After the All-Star break, we had the conversation with the team of just, every game from now on, it means something,” Julian Champagnie said. “We’re fighting for something. We’re building something.”

The Knicks spent February doubling down defensively, with last month’s 6th-best defensive rating (108.4) backing up offensive performances like Jalen Brunson’s 22-point 1st quarter Friday.

San Antonio will counter on the perimeter with Stephon Castle, who’s made things difficult for some of the best in the game.

Notable opponents’ shooting stats with Castle as the primary defender this season:

• Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: 6-19
• Jalen Williams: 3-10
• Luka Dončić: 8-21
• Cade Cunningham: 3-13
• Devin Booker: 2-9
• Cooper Flagg: 5-12

Wolves at Nuggets (3:30 ET): Anthony Edwards and the Wolves pay a visit to Nikola Jokić and the Nuggets, a familiar foe they’re stalking in the West standings.

Sharing the same record of 37-23, Denver holds on to the 4-seed with its 3-0 advantage in the season series, which would become a first-round Playoff series if the season ended today.

And come clutch time in this fierce rivalry, The Athletic’s Jon Krawczynski writes there’s no question (or debate) who’s getting the ball for Minnesota:

“In his sixth season in the league, [Ant] has shown a mastery of the moment that rivals anyone else in the NBA. He has a plan now, and there is no stopping him.

“‘Me and my coach got the best relationship ever,” Edwards said with a smile after scoring 31 points in a 94-88 victory. “He be right most of the time — 98 percent of the time. He told me to pass the ball tonight, and I should have passed it, but I shot the ball instead and it went in. The basketball gods were on my side.’” | Read More

• Franchise First? Ant (29.6 ppg) is right on the edge of Minnesota’s first 30.0+ ppg scorer in team history
• Speaking of Christmas: The Nuggets and Wolves last met on Christmas Day, where Joker (56 pts, 16 reb, 15 ast) logged the first-ever 55/15/15 game

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2. SUNDAY NIGHT BASKETBALL: SIXERS-CELTICS RIVALRY COMING UP CLUTCH

The Sixers and Celtics are tuning up for their 475th all-time meeting tonight on NBC/Peacock’s Sunday Night Basketball (8 ET).

And through all that history, the rivalry is thriving like no other this season, with the first three games all coming down to the final possession.

• Game 1, Oct. 22: On Opening Night, VJ Edgecombe (34 pts, 7 reb, 3 ast, 50.0 FG%) made a statement to the league in his debut, while Tyrese Maxey (6 ast, 54.2 FG%) dropped 40 to lead Philly to the 117-116 win
• Game 2, Oct. 31: Jaylen Brown nabbed 32 points on Halloween in Philly, and a strong defensive stand late preserved the C’s 109-108 win
• Game 3, Nov. 11: Maxey (21 pts), Justin Edwards (22 pts, 8-9 FG), and a Kelly Oubre Jr. bucket with 8.7 remaining helped the Sixers take a 2-1 series edge, 102-100

The regular season’s final entry in this series brings a showdown of top-5 scorers, with Jaylen Brown and Tyrese Maxey each scoring an identical 29.1 ppg.

• Back From Break: Maxey has been rolling since the All-Star Break, averaging 30.8 points and 7.4 assists in those last five games
• He’s been that good against Boston this season (29.0 ppg, 58.3 3P%), bolstering his assists to 9.7 over the three games and adding 5.0 boards
• JB Vs. PHI: Brown has hung with Maxey head-to-head (27.0 ppg, 5.0 reb, 5.0 ast), excelling in efficiency with 54.5/50.0 shooting splits
• Running Mate: With Joel Embiid (oblique) out for the next three games, Philly will continue to look to Edgecombe for a boost, who’s averaging 20.0 points over his last five games

Roundup: Other East contenders take the court tonight, as the Cavs look to continue their momentum visiting the Nets (3:30 ET) and the top-seeded Pistons hit the road against Magic (6 ET).

• Bucks at Bulls (3:30 ET)
• Grizzlies at Pacers (5 ET)
• Blazers at Hawks (6 ET)
• Thunder at Mavericks (8 ET)
• Pelicans at Clippers (9 ET)
• Kings at Lakers (9:30 ET)

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3. SATURDAY STANDOUTS: LAKERS SNAP SKID ON LUKA’S BIRTHDAY, HEAT HOLD OFF ROCKETS

On his 27th birthday, Luka Dončić nearly matched his new age in points.

The best (and maybe only?) gift he got all day was an end to L.A.’s three-game skid.

Lakers 129, Warriors 101: Dončić (26 pts, 6 reb, 8 ast) led all scorers as the Lakers flew out to a 33-16 lead and never trailed after 2-0. Luka, LeBron (22 pts, 7 reb, 9 ast) and Austin Reaves (18 pts) combined for 66 points and 20 of L.A.’s 29 assists. | Recap

• “I think today was one of the best games we’ve played together,” Luka said of teaming with James and Reaves. “We’re sharing the ball — we’ve just got to continue like that.”
• Special Guest: LeBron poured in 20 of his 22 points in the 1st half, his second 20+ half this season, after his warmup partner, daughter Zhuri, got him game-ready
• Triples King: Sinking four 3s on the night, James joined Kobe as the only Lakers with 1,000+ made 3s. LeBron is the first player ever to hit 1K 3s for multiple franchises
• Birthday Wishes: A mic’d up Draymond Green wished Luka happy birthday and the Lakers sang to Dončić while unveiling his jersey cake
• Feeling At-Home: Gui Santos (14 pts) led the shorthanded Warriors on the day he signed a multi-year contract extension
• Adding Separation: Holding on to the final guaranteed Playoff spot in the West, L.A. moved to 1.5 games up on the 7th-place Suns, and 4.5 ahead of the Warriors

A guaranteed Playoff spot is what Bam Adebayo and the Heat want most right now.

To get there from 8th place, they’ll need more signature wins like the one they got Saturday.

Heat 115, Rockets 105: After trading early double-digit leads, Miami closed a back-and-forth 2nd half with a 9-2 run, with Adebayo (24 pts, 11 reb, 3 3s) leading the way and Pelle Larsson adding 10 of his 20 points in the 4th. | Recap

• Kevin Durant (32 pts, 5 reb, 8 ast) led the Rockets with his 432nd 30+ point game, passing Kobe for 5th-most all-time and putting him four away from passing Karl Malone
• Next Man Up: Tyler Herro (18 pts) made his first start since Jan. 15 (ribs) in place of Norman Powell (groin), and Reed Sheppard (14 pts, 5 ast) started in place of Jabai Smith Jr. (ankle)
• Aftermath: Houston holds on to 3rd place in the West with a half-game lead over Denver, while Miami sits in 8th in the East, 2 games out of a guaranteed Playoff spot

“We’re top-5 in offense, top-5 in defense, so we know where we belong, where we should be,” Andrew Wiggins (12 pts, 6 reb) said postgame.

“We gotta keep putting in the work and be consistent to get there.”

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4. ROUNDUP: HORNETS STAY HOT, RAPTORS STARTERS ROLL, PELS TAKE TWO

Hornets 109, Blazers 92: Charlotte opened with a 25-12 run and Brandon Miller (26 pts, 8 reb) hit four of his six 3s in the 2nd quarter, as Buzz City never looked back, overcoming 46 combined points from Jrue Holiday (25 pts, 5 reb) and Jerami Grant (21 pts). | Recap

• Coby White (20 pts) made his home debut for Charlotte in his third game (calf) since arriving at the trade deadline and got a warm welcome from his college coach Roy Williams and his home state’s fans
• Second Surge? Maintaining Play-In position in 9th, Charlotte has now won four straight and is 14-3 since Jan. 22

Raptors 132, Wizards 125: All five Toronto starters scored at least 18 points, led by Immanuel Quickley (27 pts, 11 ast), who helped flip the lead for good during the Raps’ 11-2 3rd-quarter run to pull away from Will Riley (19 pts) and Washington. | Recap

• Toronto starters Quickley, Brandon Ingram (24 pts, 5 reb, 5 ast), RJ Barrett (21 pts, 5 reb), Scottie Barnes (18 pts), and Jakob Poeltl (18 pts, 10 reb, 3 stl) combined for 108 of 132 points
• Family Style: It’s the fourth time this season Toronto has had every starter score 15+ points — its most such games in a season since 2021-22 (6x)
• Elite Depth: The Raps are one of just two teams this season with four or more games where all five starters scored 15+ points, trailing only the Knicks (5x)
• In The Mix: Toronto holds steady to 5th place in the East, 1.5 games behind Cleveland, and 1.5 games up on Philly’s final guaranteed Playoff spot

Pelicans 115, Jazz 105: Saddiq Bey (24 pts, 5 reb, 6 ast, 2 stl) led New Orleans with rookie Jeremiah Fears (18 pts) grabbing a career-high 11 rebounds to secure his second double-double, as the Pels never trailed and swept the two-game series in Utah. | Recap

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5. NBA MAILBAG: JAMAL CRAWFORD ANSWERS FAN QUESTIONS

20-year NBA veteran and NBC analyst Jamal Crawford answered over 20 fan-submitted questions on all things basketball ahead of his Sixers-Celtics assignment tonight:

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

“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…”

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…”

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…” | Read More