分類: 综合

Although Pat Riley is best known for his impressive tenure as coach of the Lakers, he is equally synonymous with the success of the Miami Heat. Recently, the Lakers unveiled a statue honoring Riley’s contributions to the organization. During a sit-down conversation in Wade’s presence in Los Angeles on Sunday, Riley paid tribute to Wade for his career with Miami.

“He came in as a rookie… He was great. He was talented. He was talented… I’ve never seen a young guy work harder than Dwyane Wade to become one of the greatest players. Certainly the greatest player in Miami Heat history.”

Wade certainly earned the title of the greatest player in Heat history. He played with the organization from 2003 to 2016 before playing for the Bulls and Cavaliers. He then returned in 2018 and played with the team until his retirement in 2019. In that time, Wade won three NBA championships with the team, including his stellar performance in the 2006 NBA Finals. In the Heat’s historic comeback against the Mavericks, he averaged 34.7 points, 7.8 rebounds and 3.8 assists. He scored 40 points twice in that series: 42 points in Game 3 and 43 points in Game 4.

His greatness continued into the Big Three era, providing a high-powered tandem with LeBron James that ultimately won two more championships for the organization. With 13 NBA All-Star selections, 8 All-NBA selections, and the 2006 NBA Finals MVP award in his career, Dwyane Wade earned a spot on the NBA Top 75 Players list in 2021 and etched himself in Miami Heat history.

Kawhi Leonard of the Los Angeles Clippers has had his minutes restricted recently due to an ankle injury. Leonard initially fouled out of the game against the Los Angeles Lakers with more than five minutes remaining on the clock, but has since produced 37 points and eight rebounds in a loss against the Orlando Magic.

However, as it appears, Leonard has not fully recovered from the ankle problem and recently revealed that it was a “long injury” according to a post on the Ax by Sports Illustrated’s Farbod Esnashari.

Kawhi Leonard says his ankle pain has persisted for a long time. The medical team asked him against the Lakers to see if it was getting loose, and he went to the back but it wasn’t getting loose.

Kawhi said he didn’t want to potentially mess up his availability… pic.twitter.com/gwOaImqClr

– Farbod Esnashari (@Farbod_E) 23 February 2026

The journalist revealed, “Kawhi said he didn’t want to potentially ruin his availability against the Magic by forcing him to play against the Lakers.”

As far as the Clippers’ ceiling is concerned, Leonard remains extremely important. Through 43 games, the All-Star forward is averaging 28 points, 6.4 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game, while shooting nearly 49% from the field and 38% from three.

Of course, Leonard also remains one of the best, if not the best two-way stars in the league, and his importance has only increased following James Harden’s exit. The Clippers are somewhat removed from playoff relevance and currently sit below the .500 mark despite an uptick in form.

They currently sit 10th in the West with a 27-30 record and are largely dependent on Kawhi’s health if they get to the postseason. However, fans will be pleased to see how he has continued to perform at a high level despite the ankle problem.

Leonard played a vital role against the Lakers and kept his team in the game till the end. The Clippers could have easily won the game if he hadn’t been forced to do so, and his 37-point performance against the Magic despite the injury shows what he brings to the table.

For now, fans will hope that he recovers soon.

The Utah Jazz visit the Houston Rockets on Monday night, with both teams coming into this contest coming off losses. The Rockets suffered a loss to the New York Knicks and had an incredible fourth quarter comeback, while the Jazz lost 123–114 against the Memphis Grizzlies.

And well, the Jazz have several injury concerns to worry about, with both Lauri Markkanen and Keyontae George on the injury list. While Markkanen is listed as probable due to illness, George is questionable due to a right ankle sprain, according to the official injury report.

Of course, the same is true for the Rockets, who are also missing several names for this game.

Lauri Markkanen, Keyontae George’s injury status vs. Rockets

Markkanen is listed as probable and Utah’s leading scorer is expected to suit up against Houston. Markkanen last played for the Jazz in a win over the Sacramento Kings and they have lost both of their games during his absence.

Markkanen is currently averaging 26.7 points and seven rebounds per game and his presence becomes even more important against a Rockets defense that ranks fourth in points allowed (109.4 per game).

Utah entered the matchup 18-39 after a 123-114 loss to Memphis, admitting 24 turnovers. As for George, his questionable status means the Jazz have even more issues to deal with. George is averaging 23.8 points and 6.5 assists per game and it would be a big miss if he sits out. Regardless, the Rockets also have several absentees, including Steven Adams and Tristan Newton.

jazz injury report

Lauri Markkanen: probable (illness)

Keyonte George: Questionable (sprained right ankle)

Jaren Jackson Jr.: Out (recovering from left knee injury)

Walker Kessler: Out (recovering from left shoulder injury)

Jusuf Nurkic: Out (nose injury management)

rocket injury report

Steven Adams: Out (left ankle surgery)

Tristan Newton: Out (G League Two-Way)

Ja’Sean Tate: Out (right knee sprain)

Fred VanVleet: Out (right knee ACL repair)

Honoring former Los Angeles Lakers coach Pat Riley, who won five NBA championships with the team as head coach from 1981 to 1990, famed actor Michael Douglas referenced his Wall Street character, Gordon Gekko.

Douglas spoke at the unveiling of Riley’s statue. He joked that his Wall Street character’s look was inspired by Riley in a very specific way.

“Gordon Gekko’s hairstyle came from Pat Riley” – Michael Douglas on getting inspiration for his iconic role in the film Wall Street from the Hall of Fame Lakers coach pic.twitter.com/TERNYPDLpq

-Dave McMenamin (@mcten) 22 February 2026

Douglas added, “And yes, I have to admit that Gordon Gekko’s hairstyle came from Pat Riley,” causing some members of the crowd to laugh.

Gordon Gekko is Douglas’ character in the series Wall Street. The first film was released in 1987, and a sequel followed in 2010. Douglas starred in Wall Street with Charlie Sheen, Martin Sheen and Daryl Hannah.

Pat Riley’s great innings with the Lakers

Riley is largely associated with his time with the Lakers. He played for them from 1970 to 1975 and won the 1972 NBA Finals with them.

After retiring as a player, Riley joined the Lakers in 1979 as an assistant coach. He was then promoted to head coach in 1981, and held the position until 1990.

During his tenure as head coach of the Lakers, Riley led the team to four NBA championships. They won titles in 1982, 1985, 1987 and 1988. The Lakers also won the NBA Finals in 1980 when Riley was still an assistant coach.

He then joined the New York Knicks from 1991 to 1995, and Riley coached the Miami Heat for several years and won an NBA championship.

As an executive, Riley has won two NBA championships. The Heat went back-to-back in 2012 and 2013 with the “Big Three” (LeBron James, Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade).

After all, the Lakers have honored Riley in fitting fashion. His statue is installed outside the Crypto.com Arena. He has been immortalized alongside artists like Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

The Denver Nuggets’ final game troubles continued on Sunday as the team missed another opportunity in crunch time during a 128-117 loss to the Golden State Warriors. Despite Nikola Jokic scoring 35 points, 20 rebounds and 12 assists, the Nuggets could not perform when it mattered most.

The Nuggets have lost six of their last nine games and their star player is not holding back from making his point.

“I’m definitely worried because we’re losing games,” Jokic said. “We’re losing games, and we’re not making open looks. So it’s something we need to change. … I don’t know what it is, but we need to figure it out.”

After the loss, guard Christian Braun cited a lack of physicality and positioning as the root cause of Denver’s struggles.

“I think there’s been a lot of things this year that we haven’t been able to hold down,” Braun said. “Not being tough enough.” “It has nothing to do with our process. It has nothing to do with anything other than our need to keep our place.”

The Warriors took advantage of Denver’s defensive flaws, with Brandin Podziemski scoring 12 points in the final five minutes to seal the win.

Now sitting at 36-22, the Nuggets face a turning point ahead. After a few days’ rest, they will face Boston Celtics at home on Wednesday. Then on Friday they face the Oklahoma City Thunder, who currently have the league’s best record.

As the playoffs approach and the Nuggets want to maintain their legitimate contender status, they will have to find a way to close out these games.

The Charlotte Hornets’ LaMelo Ball is undoubtedly a talented player, and the buzz surrounding him generally stems from his ability on the court. However, recently, Ball’s driving skills have been discussed by many social media users, as he was recently involved in a two-car collision in downtown Charlotte at the busy Tread and Triton intersection.

Since the accident occurred on Thursday, days after he suited up for the Hornets in a matchup against the Houston Rockets, Ball was seen driving more cautiously in Charlotte, according to a post on Instagram by SportsCulture, with several social media users reacting to the recent incidents by saying that his poor driving was a regular occurrence.

As can be seen in the comments, many users talked about several incidents where Ball was seen driving recklessly, with some claiming that he came close to colliding with other vehicles and even people on several occasions. Although it is not clear whether social media users were joking that where there is smoke, there is usually fire.

Therefore, Ball being a bad driver seems to be a common sentiment among Charlotte residents, with many claiming to be aware of incidents where he was seen driving wildly.

Of course, the initial accident hints at something similar, with Ball’s Hummer appearing to collide with another car that had the right of way. However, the post-accident clip, in which LaMelo was seen driving his red Rolls-Royce Cullinan, shows a stark difference.

This time, Ball was seen driving cautiously around a turn and seemed intent on ensuring that he did not collide with any other vehicle. This will be a huge relief to fans, who are well aware of Ball’s importance to the Hornets.

On Sunday, at the Target Center, Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey thrilled fans with a powerful third quarter dunk over Minnesota Timberwolves stars Anthony Edwards and Jon Beringer. This play helped Philly cruise to a 135–108 victory.

Maxey, who had recently played with Edwards in the All-Star Game, scored a team-high 39 points on 16 of 28 shooting. The win snapped the Sixers’ four-game losing streak, leaving them at 31–26, and ended Minnesota’s three-game winning streak, leaving them at 35–23.

Even after Maxey threw a large poster at Edwards, he remained relaxed and smiling, showing no frustration towards the rising 76ers star.

“He’s unbelievable, man, he already knows he’s one of my favorite players to watch in the league. He even attacked me today, I really don’t like it,” Edwards told reporters after the game.

“I didn’t know he was going to lay it down… I finally turned my head. I was thinking he was going to lay it on, then he went and punched it… That’s why we play the game, I’m not mad about it.”

“I didn’t know he was going downhill…finally my head turned. I was thinking he was going to lay it up, then he went and punched it…that’s why we play the game, I’m not mad at it.”

Anthony Edwards on Tyrese Maxey’s dunk 😅

(via @adukeMN)pic.twitter.com/tMH3TiO5rT https://t.co/WDw98cSWGz

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 23 February 2026

Maxi performed exceptionally well despite the absence of Joel Embiid and a Paul George-less 76ers team, with neither star taking the court.

Edwards scored 28 points and grabbed nine rebounds, but Maxey’s game-high 39 points led Philadelphia to a dominant win over Minnesota.

Rudy Gobert sat out due to a one-game suspension, and Nazi Reed missed the game with a shoulder injury, leaving Minnesota shorthanded.

Edwards and Maxey would meet once again on April 3 for the last regular season game between Minnesota and Philadelphia.

Even after the viral dunk and the tough loss, Edwards remains a must-watch player at just 24 years old. Whether he is underrated can be debated, but there is no doubt that he is one of the top talents in the game.

For now, Anthony Edwards and the Timberwolves will look to bounce back when they face the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday.

On Sunday night in Los Angeles, the Boston Celtics silenced the home crowd with a dominant 111-89 win over the Lakers at Crypto.com Arena. The win improved Boston to 37–19, second in the East, and completed a 2–0 season sweep of Los Angeles.

With 32 points, eight rebounds, seven assists and three steals, Jaylen Brown carried Boston off his back as the team shot 48.2% from the floor. Through 51 games this season, Brown is averaging 29.2 points, 7.0 rebounds and 4.9 assists per game on 48.1% shooting, all career highs in scoring and rebounding.

After the game, four-time MVP LeBron James publicly endorsed Brown’s MVP candidacy.

“With this whole MVP thing, I don’t understand why there isn’t some discussion about his name,” James said. “Like, nobody gave him a chance to start the season. And what’s his average, 30? Just under 30? It’s a popularity contest sometimes, I’ll tell you.”

The Celtics have been without Jayson Tatum all season due to an Achilles tear, with Jrue Holiday, Al Horford and Kristaps Porzingis no longer on the roster. Tatum is not expected to return until at least March.

James praised Brown for providing stability to the revised roster as well as improving his own output.

“I think he tapped into the motivation of a lot of people who thought they were going to have a bad year,” James said. “The entire championship team has been revamped significantly, and he used it as motivation to keep them afloat. They’re playing great basketball, and it’s because of him and the rest of the guys. They’ve taken the next step.”

Brown has taken an expanded leadership role, helping keep Boston among the conference elite despite the overhaul. Additions like Nikola Vucevic have supported the rotation, but Brown’s production has driven the results.

Earlier this month, Brown and James were All-Star teammates on the USA Stripes team, where they revisited a rookie-year exchange in which James told Brown he would become an All-Star.

Their relationship previously gained attention during the 2024 Las Vegas Summer League, when Brown questioned Bronny James’ pro readiness.

James commented about Brown on Sunday, “We’ve had a very respectful relationship, other than that – he said about Brown in Summer League.” “But other than that, we’re absolutely fine.”

Brown later talked about Bronny in a social media post.

“Having your son in the NBA with you is a great accomplishment. …Bronny has all the tools to be successful. I look forward to watching his development.”

James said he and Brown “will be fine.”

“I think he went on social media and said something about it,” James said. “It’s all good, but Bronny still has a long way to go, but that’s another story. But baby, I mean, listen, JB is [great]. S—, he’s playing great basketball, man.”

Before Sunday’s matchup, former NBA star Tracy McGrady also insisted that as it is currently structured, the Celtics can reach the Eastern Conference Finals with Brown’s leadership at an MVP level. While this may seem bold on McGrady’s part, Boston remains competitive despite the roster changes. The Celtics are undoubtedly a threat in the East and are title contenders.

The Denver Nuggets visit the Golden State Warriors on Sunday afternoon looking to build on the massive 157-point performance they scored against the Portland Trail Blazers last time out. However, while they have plenty of absent players to deal with, the Nuggets will be up against a team that is missing its best players.

According to the official injury report, Jamal Murray is on the injury report along with several Nuggets rotation players, with the star guard initially listed as questionable due to a hamstring issue. Murray has since been upgraded to available, but Denver will be without standouts Aaron Gordon and Peyton Watson.

However, the Golden State Warriors have bigger concerns of their own, with Stephen Curry confirmed to be out along with Jimmy Butler and Kristaps Porzingis.

Jamal Murray’s injury status vs. Warriors

Murray was listed as doubtful until just before tip-off, so his status will be monitored. The first-time All-Stars played on both ends of a back-to-back coming out of the recent All-Star break.

Murray is averaging 25.7 points, 7.6 assists and 4.5 rebounds, while posting an elite 61.5 true shooting percentage. His importance has increased even more without Nikola Jokic, with Murray upping his production to 27.8 points and 8.3 assists in 12 games.

Denver enters the game at 36-21 and the No. 3 seed with a strong road record of 21-10, while Golden State is 29-27 and struggling without Stephen Curry.

nuggets injury report

Jamal Murray: Available (hamstring)

Aaron Gordon: Out (hamstring)

Peyton Watson: Out (hamstring)

Jalen Pickett: Out (knee soreness)

Tamar Bates: Out (foot surgery)

warriors injury report

Stephen Curry: Out (right kneecap injury/patella-femoral pain syndrome)

Jimmy Butler III: Out (ACL tear – season-ending)

Seth Curry: Out (injury management)

Nate Williams: Out (injury)

Malevi Lyons: Out (injury)

LJ Cryer: Out (injury)

Kristaps Porzingis: out (illness)

Boston Celtics guard Peyton Pritchard continues to prove that he is one of the most underrated shotmakers in the NBA, as he sank a buzzer-beater before halftime against the Los Angeles Lakers at Crypto.com Arena on Sunday.

Jaylen Brown drove hard into the lane to take the last shot, but was met by multiple defenders. With the game clock expiring, he threw the ball to Pritchard, who beat Luka Doncic and buried it. stepback three-pointer Logo’s pass gave the Celtics a nine-point lead at the break, 59–50.

Peyton Pritchard again 😱

Pritchard beat the buzzer beater in the second quarter to give the Celtics a two-point lead over the Lakers heading into halftime ☘️

pic.twitter.com/FBzvQndpWO

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 23 February 2026

Pritchard has a knack for making buzzer-beaters, so it’s no surprise he hit it. Remember his two half-court heaves in the 2024 NBA Finals against the Dallas Mavericks? Doncic probably does.

Many thought Boston would abandon the season, as Jayson Tatum was out with an Achilles injury and roster changes. But with the leadership of Brown, Pritchard and Derrick White, the Celtics have been a surprising threat in the Eastern Conference.

The 28-year-old Pritchard, the reigning Sixth Man of the Year, has gotten even better with his scoring, entering his game against the Lakers with a career-best 17.4 points average. The extra resources he has received in Tatum’s absence have increased his confidence in his game.

At the time of writing, the Celtics are leading the Lakers by double digits in the fourth quarter.

Pritchard had 19 points, including five three-pointers, four rebounds and six assists off the bench.

Boston is looking for its third consecutive win.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Without All-Stars Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams, the Oklahoma City Thunder snapped the Cleveland Cavs’ seven-game winning streak. The Thunder guards really understood their defensive duties against All-Star Donovan Mitchell, James Harden and a completely healthy Cavs team. Oklahoma City led 28–5 in the first quarter, a 23-point deficit that Cleveland erased in the second half.

However, the Thunder’s two-point deficit was short-lived as its strong defense continued to make stops, including Isaiah Joe’s career-high five steals and game-high 22 points in Sunday’s 121–113 win. who addressed him exceptional performance After the Thunder’s win on Sunday.

“At the end of the day, I stay true to my game and let it come to me,” Joe said. “Being lower body, it allows for more action. Being able to be more aggressive. A teammate asks a little more of you, and whoever is out there just answers the call. So, I think we all take a little more pride.”

Isaiah Joe on his elite shooting and 5 steals: “At the end of the day, I stay true to my game. With the body being healthy, it allows for more action. Being able to be more aggressive…

Everyone there is answering the call right now. “We all feel a little more pride.” pic.twitter.com/durXXD1WuJ

-Joshua Peacock (@Joe_Sway) 22 February 2026

Joe’s 22 points, including six threes, gave the Thunder seven players in double figures. Cason Wallace (20 points, 10 assists), who finished with three steals, Chet Holmgren (17 points, 15 rebounds), who recorded a double-double, and Isaiah Hartenstein, who added 13 points and seven rebounds.

Isaiah Joe’s defense shines in Thunder vs. Cavs

While Isaiah Joe continued his hot shooting streak, scoring at least two threes in 11 of his last dozen games, he also did his part defending the Cavs’ leading scoring tandem in Donovan Mitchell and James Harden. Against a healthy Cavs team, the Thunder won without All-Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and their leading scorer and All-Defensive forward Jalen Williams.

Without Ajay Mitchell and Alex Caruso, two Thunder guards who make their presence felt on both ends of the floor, Joe Contribution went a long way. Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault put Joe’s defense against the Cavs in perspective during his postgame media availability.

“With Harden and Mitchell, they’re heavy on looking for matchups, and they’re an experienced team that’s been well-coached. If you put a matchup out there that they like, they’ll have ways to try to get to it,” Daigneault said. “So, you have to be very, very cautious and disciplined in how you handle it. I thought their coverage tonight — they tried to go to him, they tried to go to anybody to get Dort and Cason away from those guys.

“The coverages were very tight. The coverages behind him were really good. That’s a part of him, but that’s who he is. He’s light. He’s not the biggest, strongest guy, but he performs at a high level. He’s fearless. He’s physical. And he plays hard. He plays hard all his minutes. So, you can knock him out in a game like this.”

Mark Daigneault on Isaiah Joe making defensive moves to guard James Harden and Donovan Mitchell pic.twitter.com/ZVazYlapJG

-Joshua Peacock (@Joe_Sway) 22 February 2026

The Thunder have won four of their last five games without Gilgeous-Alexander, Williams and Mitchell.

The Los Angeles Lakers made room for another statue outside Crypto Arena. Lakers’ legendary head coach and current Miami Heat president Pat Riley now has a golden statue. However the relay ceremony came with some ribs.

Riley stepped inside the Lakers’ home venue to accept his latest honor. But the 80-year-old still has jokes especially for James Worthy and others he trained.

Pat Riley’s speech at halftime, where he praised James Worthy for being the only former player to wear a tie and mocked everyone else for giving him a $2,000 fine: https://t.co/fqcqzh11fh pic.twitter.com/cUa6lBKVzP

– Khobi Price (@khobi_price) 23 February 2026

The night was filled with laughter and jokes, especially among the famous relay players. But there was still a serious tone from Riley, particularly with this message inscribed on his statue:

The message reads, “There will come a time when you will be challenged. And when that time comes, you have to find your footing. You have to stand firm. You have to make a point. Who you are, what you do and where you come from. And when that time comes, you do this.”

That quote came during the 1985 NBA Finals won by LA against the rival Boston Celtics.

Comparing current Lakers coach to Pat Riley?

The four-time NBA champion with the Lakers Riley founded the famous “Showtime Lakers” of the 1980s. Riley turned to names like Kareem Abdul-Jabar, Magic Johnson, Worthy and others to dominate in the 1980s.

JJ Redick now occupies the position that Riley made famous nearly four decades ago. Redick was a child during the Lakers’ run in the ’80s — yet many believe his coaching style mimics the great leader.

However, the current Lakers leader decided to give his rose to Riley.

Redick told reporters, “I didn’t think much about the comparisons at the time. I think Pat, to me, kind of set the standard for modern NBA coaches and I’ve always looked at the NBA as two very different eras.” “You can make the demarcation point right at the time of the merger or right in 80-81 when Dallas joined as the 23rd team.”

Redick added: “Pat set the standard for what a modern NBA coach should be.”

Riley joins Shaquille O’Neal, Johnson, Abdul-Jabar, Jerry West, Elgin Baylor, Chick Hearn and Kobe Bryant as Lakers to erect a statue outside of Crypto.

ATLANTA – The Atlanta Hawks know they have a good opportunity in front of them with a long homestand. Not only that, but those games come against teams that haven’t played very well this season. The Brooklyn Nets were on their schedule today, and although some might have thought it would be an easy walk for the Hawks, it turned out to be a dogfight for three quarters.

The battle subsided in the first half of the fourth quarter, where the Nets went up by 11 points, and the Hawks had no answer to anything they did. Fortunately, a flip switch occurred, and the Hawks woke up with less than six minutes left in the game.

The Hawks finished the game on a 24–2 run, and after being down by 11 points at one point in the fourth, they walked away with a 115–104 victory over the Nets.

“We stepped up our aggression in the last six minutes,” Dyson Daniels said. “We had no choice, we were down 11, we had to change something. Everybody changed it. We were more physical on the ball; we were able to create turnovers, get stops and get out and run. We’ve got to be better at the beginning of the game if we want to beat good teams and give ourselves a chance this year.”

Daniels had three steals in the fourth, one of which came from defending the inbounds and catching the ball in the air.

“He kind of threw it down,” Daniels said. “I knew he already had the ball for three or four seconds, so it was coming soon, and I timed the jump.”

It was clear that defense was key in helping the Hawks come back late, and it started with the guards and flowed throughout the team.

“Collectively, we did a good job of stopping them,” Jalen Johnson said. “Nickel [Alexander-Walker] And Dyson set the tone with that and others followed suit. Dyson got some steals and that changed the momentum.”

“Defense wins games,” Jock Landell said. “I think we did a good job in the fourth quarter. C.J. turned it on and made some big shots. [Jalen] Did a good job of figuring out where he wanted the ball and got to his spot. This was a ripe game to end.

As important as defense was, the Hawks had to come back and score on the other end. It was Johnson who led the way in that category, as he scored 14 points in the fourth and sealed the game with some key buckets at the end. CJ McCollum, who moved into the starting lineup, also hit a big three-pointer at the end of the game to give the Hawks the lead.

From there the Hawks never looked back and were able to pick up a win to continue their homestand.

NEW YORK – Jalen Brunson was the NBA’s 2025 Clutch Player of the Year for a reason. On Saturday night against the Houston Rockets, he added to his crunch-time resume by finalizing New York’s 18-point comeback. It took almost half of the third quarter for Brunson to make his first field goal, but the final six minutes of the fourth quarter were his showcase.

New York reduced Houston’s lead for the first half of the fourth quarter with Brunson on the bench. The guard entered the game with 6:27 left, shooting 4-4 ​​from the floor and knocked down the lead-taking mid-range jump shot with 29.5 seconds remaining. It was the guard’s 14th game-tying or go-ahead save since joining the Knicks’ roster, good for second in the NBA in that span.

According to ESPN, Brunson trails only DeMar DeRozan in that regard. The superstar guard told reporters after the game that, despite the game’s make-or-miss reputation, his fourth-quarter masterpiece was about a change in approach, not just a variation.

“I didn’t like how I was playing and I saw I had to change it, it’s that simple. It has nothing to do with shooting. It’s the mentality of getting down the slope and trying to make plays. And not hesitate and not be passive. If there are mistakes, they’re offensive mistakes. They want you to be on your heels. And I think that’s what I was in the first few quarters,” the Knicks captain told the media on Saturday.

Brown says the Knicks “have to get better” after being swept by the Rockets.

Reporters asked head coach Mike Brown about his group’s tendency to underestimate competition and flip the proverbial “switch” when needed. He said after the game that although he has coached teams that can “flip the switch”, such as the Golden State Warriors group that included Durant, those were unique situations that he was not counting on replicating in New York.

“We’ve found a way. But we’ve got to be better,” Brown said.

The organization chose this coach to lead this group because his focus was on team process regardless of results. Sunday night’s tilt in Chicago will conclude the weekend’s back-to-back. After that, the Knicks have 24 games left in the regular season. Brown, and his players, will spend time honing that same process – trying to get as close to perfection as possible.

Kendrick Perkins made a bold move on what the Golden State Warriors should do with Stephen Curry for the rest of the 2025-26 NBA season.

Curry is halfway through the 17th season of his remarkable career. Having won four titles in that span, Curry is expected to compete for a fifth ring as he moves into the latter stages of his time in the league.

Golden State has struggled to reach the top of the mountain since their last title in 2022. Even though the franchise has taken steps to keep the roster in the playoff race this season, former player and current NBA analyst Kendrick Perkins has made a pointed request to the organization regarding Curry’s availability this season.

“Shut up Steph. Let those guys play it out. See if guys fit in. Right now I would let the rest of the Warriors team outside of Steph play this season and audition to see if they want to be here. How do you want to be here? By performing at a high level,” Perkins said at the 12:21 mark of the Road Trippin’ Podcast.

“This offseason is probably one of the most important offseasons this franchise has had since Steph has been a part of the franchise. Because he needs to go out. Mike Dunleavy has to do his job and make sure he goes and gets the pieces so that Steph has a legitimate shot to compete for an NBA title next year.”

Stephen Curry, what’s next for the Warriors

Stephen Curry still has plenty of potential to do big in his career. The Warriors need to make the most of his remaining years before making this a career.

Curry continues to excel as Golden State’s top star in year 17. Across 39 games, he averaged 27.2 points, 4.8 assists and 3.5 rebounds per game.

Golden State has a 30–27 record on the season, finishing in eighth place in the Western Conference standings. They are above the Los Angeles Clippers and Portland Trail Blazers, while trailing the Phoenix Suns and Los Angeles Lakers.

After an upset win over the Denver Nuggets on Sunday, the Warriors will be eager for their next matchup. They are on the road when they face the New Orleans Pelicans on February 24th at 8 PM ET.

The Atlanta Hawks made a change to their starting lineup prior to the game against the Brooklyn Nets, placing C.J. McCollum in the starting lineup and removing Jacqueri Risachar from the bench. Rescher struggled during the season, and head coach Quin Snyder said that when McCollum is in the closing lineup with starters, the statistics show that good things happen.

“That group of guys that finished the game had a net rating 10 points higher than any other combination,” Snyder said. “This is our best lineup. Not starting CJ gives us ball handling and some scoring punch off the bench. But we don’t get that lineup as much.”

Although some may see this as a demotion for Rishaar, Snyder believes it could help the second-year player find a spark in his game.

“I think the biggest thing is that this in no way reflects our and my personal confidence in Zack,” Snyder said. “I thought being in a different phase of the game against different matchups with different guys could be really positive for him. And I was glad to see that I think that was the case. He looked relaxed, and he competed. Jack has all the right things. His development is something that will continue, whether he’s starting or coming off the bench.”

In their win against the Nets, Rissacher finished with seven points and had a strong start to his first stint in the game. As for the players, they don’t see a big difference in who is in the starting lineup, as long as everyone continues to do their job.

“I think guys just come in and do their part,” Dyson Daniels said. “Jack was really good coming off the bench. He came in and he was kind of an energy booster for us. Came in and hit a big shot. Whoever starts, whoever comes off the bench, it doesn’t really matter. Guys have to come in and play their roles, and guys have to start the right way.”

After averaging 12.6 points per game last season, Rischer is averaging 10.3 points this season. There have been moments when he has looked good, but there have also been moments when he has struggled to find a consistent rhythm on both sides of the ball.

On the other hand, the lineup of McCollum, Daniels, Nickel Alexander-Walker, Jalen Johnson, and Onyeka Okongwu had a +18.7 point differential per Nets game.

“In this case, it’s just to the point where it makes sense with CJ,” Snyder said. “I think he also settles us in some ways. And the extra ball handling is helpful for us. We’ve had some tough starts lately, and you get to the five, six minute mark when you know you’re going to get that lineup.”

As the Hawks look to move forward in the second half of the season, it should come as no surprise that a lineup change will help them.

NEW YORK – The New York Knicks’ 18-point comeback win over the Houston Rockets on Saturday night delivered a thrilling finish. The defensive intensity of Karl-Anthony Towns led to the lead in the fourth quarter, which set up Jalen Brunson to save the day. However, with 5:04 left in the fourth quarter, head coach Mike Brown continued a controversial trend of late games by sending Mikal Bridges to the sideline.

The coach replaced the starting wing with Landry Shamet, telling reporters after the game that assistant coach Rick Brunson deserves credit for the idea. Thursday night against the Detroit Pistons, Bridges sat the last 9:31 of the game. He also finished contests on the bench in late January and early February against the Sacramento Kings and Philadelphia 76ers, respectively.

Bridges replaced Towns in the final five seconds of the game, allowing New York’s four-point lead to focus on defense. But the 29-year-old wing, whom Leon Rose and the Knicks front office signed to a $150 million extension this summer, spent much of the crisis on the bench.

They saw Brunson destroy Houston’s defense with Josh Hart sitting to make way for the newly acquired Alvarado. The Brooklynite recorded his third, fourth and fifth steals of the game in those minutes, made just one of three late shots, but provided the energy and aggression New York needed to shut out Kevin Durant’s group.

Bridges repeats Celtics playoff magic with clutch 3-pointer vs. Bulls

On Sunday night, in the Knicks’ second leg of the weekend, the team defeated the Chicago Bulls. Bridges closed out the six-point victory, hitting a key 3-pointer with 27 seconds remaining to seal the victory. However, by then, Wing had only eight points on 3-9 shooting in over 29 minutes of playing time. A clutch 3-pointer pushed him into double figures and saved the Knicks’ night.

From not playing at all to stabbing Chicago in the back, the combination of late-game roles played by Bridges represents more than the ups and downs of Sunday night. Provides two-way wing performance that includes frustrating plays in quarters, halves or entire games. But, somehow, he often finds a way to make up for it in the end.

In each of the team’s first two games against the Boston Celtics in last year’s playoffs, Bridges won the Knicks the game with incredibly timely defensive play. The second of those games featured a perfect example of Bridges’ extreme swing. The Wings failed to score in the first three quarters, but scored 14 points and made the game-winning defense in the fourth.

Bridges’ early-game struggles and late-game heroics on Sunday night did not give New York a win with playoff-level significance. But it further demonstrated the wing’s zero-to-hero range. Under a new coach in Brown, the Knicks are leaning into their depth as Bridges wanted last season. Players, including Bridges, may not view finishing a game on the bench as an insult.

His competitive nature should allow him to use any tough times benching as motivation. Just because someone like Shamet or Alvarado was red-hot inside doesn’t mean a certain starter’s play was unacceptable. Sometimes, the two coincide. Ultimately, the Knicks shouldn’t care.

Brown has stressed the importance of “finding ways to win” and will likely continue to do so during the season. It’s something their group needs to pursue with equal enthusiasm, no matter who is on the court.

Fans are speculating whether Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum will see action this season as he recovers from his Achilles injury.

Multiple reports say Tatum is on track and ahead of schedule. He has accomplished several feats, including participating in controlled 5‑on‑5 scrimmages and working out with teammates.

The 27-year-old Tatum has touted his progress, but recently backtracked on his previous view that he could suit up this season, saying he needed to reevaluate his situation.

Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla confirmed that Tatum was practicing ahead of Sunday’s game against the Los Angeles Lakers. But when asked if the six-time All-Star participated, Mazzulla had the all-time response, as shown in a video posted by CLNS.

Did Jayson Tatum practice yesterday?

“He was at practice?”

Did he participate?

*stares*@CLNSMedia | Why: @RealBobManning pic.twitter.com/SOLMYuzu4J

-Celtics on CLNS (@CelticsCLNS) 22 February 2026

Silence usually means yes. But Mazzulla is as difficult to read in Latin as Leo Tolstoy’s “War and Peace”, so it’s hard to say whether he actually alluded to anything.

Why waste energy on words when you can always look deep into someone’s soul and make them question their existence?

If anything, Majulla is tired of answering questions about Tatum, who suffered a debilitating injury against the New York Knicks in last season’s playoffs.

Whatever his wordless response actually meant, it’s clear the Celtics are doing just fine without Tatum. They defeated the Lakers 111–89 to improve to 37–19, including 8–2 in their last 10 games.

Jaylen Brown is playing at an MVP level, earning his keep from even LeBron James. Derrick White, Payton Pritchard and Neemias Queta have been consistent contributors, while the addition of Nikola Vucevic has made them even stronger.

The Celtics will take a look at the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday.

Los Angeles – After a first quarter in which the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics were tied at 28 each, the Lakers could not keep pace with their historic rival and were outscored 83–61 the rest of the game and lost 111–89. According to Lou Murray of The Athletic, the 89 points were the second-lowest total this season for a Lakers team that has been explosive offensively, and Luka Doncic admitted it was not normal.

“I thought they were playing physical. They were playing great defense,” Doncic said during his postgame press conference. “We need a better offense. We scored 89 points. That’s not like us so we have to be better.”

Coming into the game against the Celtics, the Lakers were 12th in the NBA in points per game with 116.2 points. They were 10th in offensive rating at 117.6. The Celtics, on the other hand, came in second in the league in opponent points per game with 108.4 and eighth in defensive rating with 113.5.

The Celtics’ swarming defense was certainly on display, especially their use of deep drops and strong perimeter ball pressure.

“You just have to match the physicality … especially on the defensive end,” Doncic said. “You have to match the physicality.”

Doncic finished the game with 25 points in 33 minutes while shooting 9-of-22 (40.9 percent) from the field and 4-of-7 (57.1 percent) from the 3-point line. He also added five rebounds, three assists and one steal.

The Lakers’ offensive struggles were also highlighted by head coach JJ Redick, who felt the team generally played good enough defense to win games. This was a reversal of the team’s norm this season in which they have generally scored a lot of points, but struggled to stop opposing attacks.

“We did a good job limiting their fast break points, did a good job limiting their points in the paint. We played great defensively,” Redick said. “We were very aggressive tonight.”

For Redick, one of the key areas the Lakers struggled offensively was making shots at the rim and putting more pressure on the Celtics’ defense.

“I think there were opportunities to put more pressure on the rim, especially in the first half,” Redick said. “We took 11 non-paint twos. We were 13 of 29 on paint twos, non-rim paint twos. That’s not normally how we shoot. And then we got some good looks from three, we didn’t knock them down. You’ve got to make shots in this league.”

Redick added, “I think a lot of times when teams are on more downs than all of our guys playing pick and roll, it puts you in a bind of not having obvious options to pass.” “We’ve got to do a better job of finding guys and moving the ball.”

Before the game, the Lakers honored legendary coach Pat Riley, who battled against the Celtics in his day, by erecting a statue outside the team’s arena.

The Los Angeles Clippers suffered a painful 111-109 loss to the Orlando Magic on Sunday at the Intuit Dome. However, one fan definitely won big.

During halftime, he participated in a promotional half-court shot challenge. He stepped onto the court with confidence and surprised everyone, going the long distance and earning a cash prize of $10,000.

He was as excited as a teenage girl at a Taylor Swift concert and was jumping up and down the court to celebrate his impressive shot.

This Clippers fan scored a half-court shot for $10,000 💰

(via @nba)pic.twitter.com/akcfX63n3m

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 23 February 2026

Was that the best highlight of the game or what?

Imagine you’re cheering for the Clippers and then going home with $10,000.

The people at X were thrilled to have the fan.

“Half the court. $10K. Ice in his veins. What a moment!” @ishnhere said.

“My palms get sweaty just holding the ticket. That fan has ice in his veins,” echoed @farrynft.

“Clutch isn’t just the players. Hats off to that Los Angeles Clippers fan for pulling off the buck in style!”. @Anikaflicks added.

@JB233_ posted, “Dang, all the fans are getting hit tonight.”

@notdomsanch joked, “The arena was noisier than any dunk last Saturday, LMAO.”

@yaboiandro wrote, “What a $hot.”

Maybe the Clippers should give the fan a 10-day contract.

The Half-Court Shooting Contest is a fun centerpiece of halftime entertainment in the NBA, giving spectators a chance to participate and a memorable experience at the venue.

The Clippers have now suffered consecutive losses after falling 125-122 against the Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday.

They return to action on Thursday against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

The Portland Trail Blazers entered Sunday looking to erase their previous defensive debacle. They saw the Denver Nuggets score an astonishing 157 points. That means Portland had less than 48 hours to quickly get their defense right against the Phoenix Suns.

The Blazers accomplished a rare feat in NBA history by losing 92-77 on Sunday.

According to OptaSTATS, this is the most defensive feat that Portland has achieved.

Impressive defensive moments from the Blazers

Camara’s block stood out as one of a surprising 11 swats for Portland. But he was also not considered the most impressive defensive performer.

Donavan Clingan captured that title – blocking four of the Suns’ attempts to advance. Wit Crazy and Robert Williams III both teamed up for a pair of blocks. Scooter Henderson and Jerami Grant also added a block each for the Blazers.

Clingan finished with 23 points and collected 13 rebounds for a double-double. Camara also had his double-double (12 points and 10 rebounds).

Grant led the Clingans with 23 points, while Henderson reached double figures with 11 points. Portland forced Phoenix to shoot a disappointing 36.5% from field goal range, including 25.7% in the three-point game. While the Blazers committed 21 turnovers, the Suns turned the basketball over 19 times.

Even though the Los Angeles Lakers lost 111-89 to the Boston Celtics on Sunday, it was a memorable evening for fans, as the team honored one of its most iconic personalities in the form of former coach Pat Riley.

The halftime ceremony was a special tribute to Riley celebrating his statue, which was unveiled outside Crypto.com Arena before the game.

LeBron James admitted he took a look at the halftime ceremony, which was hosted by Magic Johnson and attended by former Riley players including Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, James Worthy, Jamal Wilkes, AC Green and Byron Scott.

James, 41, had only good words to say about Riley, 80, emphasizing that he has “Highly respected” For the great master.

“He’s one of the all-time greats that has been a part of this league, not only as a player, (but) as a coach, an executive, front office, everything. Obviously, what he did with the Lakers organization in the ’80s goes without saying, and rightfully so, they built a statue of him outside the building,” James said in a video posted by EssentialSports’ Mark Medina.

LeBron James called Pat Riley “one of the all-time great players to be a part of this league” after watching Riley’s halftime celebration. LeBron envisioned the Heat could have had a 6–10 year title window if he had stayed in 2014 instead of returning to Cleveland. pic.twitter.com/IScCJcWxqO

– Mark Medina (@MarkG_Medina) 23 February 2026

Of course, James and Riley spent four years together at the Miami Heat, where Riley served as team president for more than three decades. James led the Heat to two titles before returning to the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2014.

James’ decision to join Miami changed the landscape of the NBA, while also underscoring Riley’s continuing influence.

While many believe they could have won more championships together, James said he does not dwell on the past.

“It’s human nature to look back and say, ‘Well, what could have been.’ But it’s part of life,” said the four-time MVP, who had 20 points, four rebounds, five assists and two steals against the Celtics.

Riley coached the Lakers to four championships as the architect of the famous “Showtime” era.

Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards surprised many with his lack of knowledge of the NHL’s Minnesota Wild and MLB’s Minnesota Twins.

Edwards made the comments during a special guest appearance on the sports comedy podcast Sunday Conversation. As the franchise player of the Timberwolves, fans will assume he knows at least one player from Minnesota’s professional baseball or hockey teams. However, Edwards, who is always up for debate about being the face of the NBA, is always completely honest with his comments and lacks the media-trained fake answers given by many star athletes.

Edwards said at 2:56, “I haven’t got any favorite players among them. I don’t know any players from the Twins or the Wild. I’ll put it to you, I don’t watch baseball or hockey.”

Given his tendency to be outspoken, it’s funny to hear his honesty here, in which he admits he doesn’t watch or care about Minnesota’s other pro teams.

What’s next for Anthony Edwards, Timberwolves

Anthony Edwards goes viral with his highlights and statements on and off the court. This example was no different as the Timberwolves star continues to draw attention with his comments about the sports world

Edwards has had a strong season as he approaches the halfway point of his sixth year in the league. Over the course of 47 appearances, he has averaged 29.5 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.3 steals per game. He is shooting 49.4% from the field, including 40.1% from beyond the arc, and 79.4% from the free-throw line.

Minnesota has a 35–23 record on the season, tied for sixth in the Western Conference standings. They are above the Phoenix Suns and Golden State Warriors, while trailing the Los Angeles Lakers and Houston Rockets.

After Sunday’s loss to the Philadelphia 76ers, the Timberwolves will look to bounce back in their next matchup. They’ll be on the road when they face the Portland Trail Blazers on February 24th at 10 PM ET.

Tyrese Maxey had a stellar performance as the Philadelphia 76ers beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 135-108 at Target Center on Sunday, giving Anthony Edwards a frontcourt seat — unfortunately for him.

Maxey had a game-high 39 points on 16-of-28 shooting with three rebounds, eight assists and two steals. The 76ers ended their four-game losing streak and improved to 31–26.

They also snapped the Timberwolves’ three-game winning streak, which came to 35–23. Minnesota played without Rudy Gobert and Nazi Reed due to a one-game suspension and shoulder injury, respectively.

In the third quarter, Maxey gave the 76ers even more momentum after making strong dunks over Anthony Edwards and Jon Beringer.

After the game, Edwards acknowledged Maxi’s huge slam and gave his teammate the All-Star high praise.

“He’s unbelievable. He already knows he’s one of my favorite players to watch in the league. He even attacked me today. I really don’t like it. He played very well,” Edwards said in a video posted by Timberwolves reporter Andrew Dukowitz.

“I didn’t know he was going down. I just turned my head. I was thinking he was going to lay it up, then he went and punched it. It was like a little early dunk, too. I didn’t even get a chance to stop it. But yeah, that’s why we play the game. I’m not mad at it.”

Tyrese Maxi on Anthony Edwards and getting dunked on

“He’s an incredible guy, he already knows he’s one of my favorite players to watch in the league. He even dunked on me today, I don’t really like it (laughs)… I didn’t know he was going down, I just took my turn… pic.twitter.com/GbOlgtciHA

-Andrew Dukowitz (@adukeMN) 23 February 2026

Ant-Man has always kept it real during interviews, and it’s nice to hear him give Maxi props. While Edwards, 24, is known for talking a lot on the floor, he is equally generous with compliments.

He finished with 28 points on 11-of-19 shooting, nine rebounds, three assists, two steals and two blocks. He also had a game-high seven turnovers.

The Timberwolves will face the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday.

Jaylen Brown delivered another outstanding performance to lead the Boston Celtics past the Los Angeles Lakers, 111-89, on Sunday at Crypto.com Arena.

Brown finished with a game-high 32 points, eight rebounds, seven assists and four steals as the Celtics improved to 37–19. The Lakers fell to 34–22.

LeBron James has praised Brown’s performance this season, taking over for Boston amid Jayson Tatum’s continued absence due to an Achilles injury.

“He’s using the motivation of a lot of people who are saying they’re going to have a bad year because obviously, with JT being out, they’re losing Jrue (Holliday), Al (Horford) gone, (Kristaps) Porzingis gone, their entire championship team is pretty much new. He’s using that as motivation to keep them afloat. They’re playing great basketball because of him and all the other guys. He’s taking the next step,” James said in a video posted. C.L.N.S.

James said he and Brown did it stay civilizedEven if the latter criticized the former’s son Bronny James last year.

“We’ve had a very respectful relationship, other than what he said about Bronny in Summer League. But other than that, we’re OK,” the four-time MVP said with a smile.

“It’s all good. Bronny still has a long way to go, but that’s a different story.”

LeBron James on his relationship with Jaylen Brown:

“Our relationship has been very respectful. Other than that crap he said about Bronny in Summer League. But other than that, we’re okay.”

🤣🤣🤣

(via @celticsclns)

pic.twitter.com/rV9KrpCj4q

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 23 February 2026

While watching Summer League at courtside, Brown was caught on video saying, “I don’t think Bronny James is a professional.” It quickly went viral and, of course, James took notice.

The young James has been widely criticized, with many fans sharing Brown’s views. However, he has shown improvement in his second season.

Meanwhile, the elder James said Brown is playing “great basketball,” adding that the Celtics star is not being talked about enough for the MVP award.

Rob Dillingham shocked the home crowd with his mistake on the court in the Chicago Bulls’ matchup against the New York Knicks on Sunday night.

Dillingham is halfway through the second season of his NBA career. He initially represented the Minnesota Timberwolves before being traded to the Bulls midway through the 2025–26 campaign.

The youngster has earned more playing time, giving him the opportunity to showcase his skills in Chicago’s rotation. However, their inexperience began to show at times, which was certainly the case in the final minutes of the third quarter. He went on a fast break while attempting a dunk, but was surprisingly unsuccessful.

Rob Dillingham oh no 😭

Dillingham hits a wide-open dunk on a fast break.pic.twitter.com/t8aT4rnMh9

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 23 February 2026

Rob Dillingham, how the Bulls played against the Knicks

It was a brutal miss for Rob Dillingham during the game. Additionally, the Bulls faltered in a close loss to the Knicks at home, resulting in the continuation of their losing streak.

Shot selection, ball movement and turnovers made the difference in this matchup. The Knicks won all three categories after making 45% of their total shots, dishing out 27 assists and limiting their turnovers to just 13. It wasn’t the same for the Bulls as they only converted 40% of their total chances, dished out 24 assists and turned the ball over 17 times.

Five players scored in double figures for Chicago in the loss. Matas Buzelis led the way with a stat line of 15 points and four rebounds. He shot 4 of 12 from the field, including 3 of 9 from beyond the arc and 4 of 5 from the free-throw line. Jalen Smith came next with 12 points and five rebounds, Isaac Okoro had 12 points and six rebounds, Guerschon Yabusele put up 11 points and 13 rebounds, while Patrick Williams added 10 points and eight assists.

Chicago fell to a 24–34 record on the season and finished 12th in the Eastern Conference standings. They are above the Washington Wizards and Brooklyn Nets while trailing the Milwaukee Bucks and Charlotte Hornets.

After nine consecutive losses, the Bulls will look to end this streak in their next match. They will be at home when they host the Hornets on February 24th at 8 PM ET.

The Chicago Bulls’ losing woes continued as they lost 105-99 to the New York Knicks on Sunday. This is their ninth consecutive defeat and they are now leading 24-34. Still, they had Isaac Okoro do as he has been doing lately.

Even in the loss, Okoro finished the game with 12 points and six rebounds. In the process, Okoro equaled his career achievementWith his sixth consecutive 10+ point game, according to Joe Cowley of The Chicago Sun-Times. This streak began on February 5 against the Toronto Raptors, when he scored 10 points in a 123–107 loss.

Additionally, Okoro’s latest series of 10+ points is dated May 2021. From 5/7 to 5/16, he scored in double figures. So far, Okoro has played 48 games and is averaging 9.1 points per game. Matas Buzelis led the way for Chicago with 15 points. Jalen Smith tied Okoro with 12 points. Guershon Yabusele came in with 11 points and Patrick Williams finished with 10 points.

On Saturday, he finished with 15 points in a 126–110 loss to the Detroit Pistons. Earlier, Okoro scored 16 points in a 110–101 loss to the Raptors, the Bulls’ first game since the All-Star break.

In 2025, Bulls acquired okoro From the Cleveland Cavaliers in exchange for Lonzo Ball. A big reason for bringing in Okoro was to strengthen Chicago’s defense, as he is known for his irritating and disruptive presence in the passing lanes.

The loss marked the first time in seven years that the Bulls have lost nine consecutive games. On Tuesday they will play at home against the Charlotte Hornets.

VJ Edgecombe had a buzzer-beating highlight in the Philadelphia 76ers’ matchup against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday night.

Edgecombe is halfway through the rookie campaign of his NBA career. He has made impressive progress throughout the season, and has made a solid case for the Rookie of the Year award while helping Philadelphia make a playoff run.

Edgecombe scored another impressive highlight for his rookie mixtape. The game took place in the opening minutes of the fourth quarter when Edgecombe fired a deep 3-pointer from the top of the key. He did so as the shot clock expired and stunned the opposing crowd in the process.

VJ Edgecombe with a crazy shot handle to beat the shot clockpic.twitter.com/tZsiG2KBOm

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 23 February 2026

VJ Edgecombe, how the 76ers played against the Timberwolves

VJ Edgecombe enjoyed a strong performance as he helped the 76ers defeat the Timberwolves in a blowout 135-108 win.

Philadelphia got off to a solid start and led 68–58 at halftime. They continued the momentum in the second half and outscored Minnesota 67–50 in the final 24 minutes.

Four players scored in double figures for Philadelphia in the win, including Edgecombe. He finished with a stat line of 24 points, seven rebounds, two steals and one assist. He made 8 of 18 shots from the field, including 6 of 7 from beyond the arc and 2 of 2 from the free-throw line. Tyrese Maxey sparked the Nets with 39 points and eight assists, Quentin Grimes finished second with 19 points and seven assists, while Kelly Oubre Jr. provided 18 points and five rebounds.

Philadelphia improved to a 31–26 record on the season and finished sixth in the Eastern Conference standings. They are above the Miami Heat and Orlando Magic, while trailing the Toronto Raptors and Cleveland Cavaliers.

The 76ers will remain on the road awaiting their next matchup. They will face the Indiana Pacers on February 24, tip-off at 7 PM ET.

Derrick Jones Jr. has been a solid contributor for the Los Angeles Clippers since his return from an MCL injury that sidelined him for more than a month.

It’s no coincidence that the Clippers have played well in recent weeks, even after the departure of James Harden at the trade deadline. Jones has been a big part of their surge, providing two-way activity.

In Sunday’s start against the Orlando Magic at the Intuit Dome, Jones showed again why he is an essential part of the roster. However, Paolo Banchero briefly escaped Jones after receiving a screen from Wendell Carter Jr. Jones. got well fast To block Banchero’s jumpshot.

The Clippers recovered the ball, leading to a breakaway dunk for Kobe Sanders.

Derrick Jones Jr. with a block on Paolo Banchero, leading to a slam by Kobe Sanders 🔥pic.twitter.com/nlvA9nHX8t

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 23 February 2026

In one play, Jones demonstrated his agility, jumping ability and high intelligence. Many people would have given up after losing the pick, but the high-flying forward refused to do so.

It’s that kind of effort that has kept the 29-year-old Jones in the NBA. In his first season, he was known only as a dunker. He hardly had time to play. Still, he worked on his game, developing an outside shot to become a serviceable 3-and-D guy.

Over the years, he has seen his role grow, and has become a key part for the Dallas Mavericks during the 2024 NBA Finals.

He has been a perfect complement to Kawhi Leonard, as he doesn’t need the ball to make an impact.

In his two games since the All-Star break, excluding their meeting versus the Magic, Jones has averaged 17.5 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.0 blocks.

It took several years, but Pat Riley finally earned his own statue outside the Crypto.com Arena for his iconic tenure with the Los Angeles Lakers, joining other icons of this iconic franchise.

He was a larger-than-life figure during his two-decade tenure in Los Angeles. Now, it’s become more literal with an eight-foot bronze tribute. It was unveiled at a ceremony before the Lakers host the Boston Celtics on Sunday.

It was a perfect fit, as Riley led the Lakers to four titles, two of which were at the expense of the Celtics.

Riley, 80, who started out as a TV analyst for the Purple & Gold, was extremely grateful for the generous praise.

“I’m so grateful. I really am. It’s beyond grateful. I’m so grateful to be honored and to be with the giants whose shoulders I jumped on and who lifted me up,” Riley said in a report by Khobi Price of the New York Post.

In addition to Riley, the Lakers have also created statues for NBA legends Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson, Shaquille O’Neal, Kobe Bryant, Jerry West, Elgin Baylor and play-by-play commentator Chick Hearn.

Riley, who has served as team president of the Miami Heat since 1995 and has not held a position with the Lakers since leaving in 1990, remains a respected member of the team.

He led the Lakers to their dynastic run in the 1980s and gave birth to the “Showtime” era with his thrilling and fast-paced style. They were as shiny as his slicked back hair and designer suit.

Riley was a perfect fit for Hollywood, helping shape a culture where excellence wasn’t expected, it was expected. Now, his legacy remains even more enduring.

The Minnesota Timberwolves were without one of their key players against the Philadelphia 76ers at Target Center on Sunday, as running back Naz Reed was out with a shoulder injury.

Reid has been out in recent weeks, and sitting out against the 76ers was a big blow for the Timberwolves, who are looking for their fourth consecutive win.

It is unclear when Reid suffered the shoulder injury. He finished Friday’s 122-111 win against the Dallas Mavericks with 21 points, seven rebounds, four assists and two blocks in 30 minutes off the bench.

The 26-year-old Reed has a strong case to win his second Sixth Man of the Year trophy, as he has career averages of 14.3 points, 6.4 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.0 steals.

He signed a five-year extension worth $125 million in the offseason.

Timberwolves coach Chris Finch has often praised Reed’s work ethic, which has helped him remain competitive in recent years.

“I don’t remember the exact timing, but it was definitely within the first window of the season. I would say he’s started to really, really rebound at a high level and make a lot of those types of plays. Get out and run, rebound, just play with more activity. That’s what’s really gotten him going offensively,” Finch said in a report by Timberwolves reporter Liam Willerup.

In addition to Reed, Minnesota also battled Philadelphia without Rudy Gobert, who served a one-game suspension.

Jon Beringer, Ayo Dosunmu and Terrence Shannon Jr. have earned additional minutes without Reed and Gobert.

It is still unclear how long Reid will be out.

After teaming up for Team Stars in the All-Star Game, Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey and Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards are back on opposite sides.

Maxi made sure to remind Edwards about it on Sunday.

With the 76ers leading in the third quarter, Maxey attacked the rim and made a strong attack. left hand slam Edwards and center Jon Beringer, wowing the crowd at Target Center.

Tyrese Maxey beats multiple defenders! pic.twitter.com/y8aNCXkxEH

– NBA (@NBA) 23 February 2026

When Maxi moved into the lane he clearly had bad intentions.

While the 25-year-old guard is more known for his speed and explosiveness, he can definitely throw it down.

Edwards, who has quite a collection of posters, must appreciate Maxi’s fearless jam.

X fans certainly did.

“He bounced like gravity had forgotten him,” said @LinLyn99.

@shydyor said, “Maxi attacking multiple defenders? Bad.”

At this point, one could argue that Maxey is now the 76ers’ most important player, as Joel Embiid struggles with his health. Maxi has been performing consistently since his second year out.

The backcourt pairing of Maxey with VJ Edgecombe has given Philadelphia a more dynamic and high-octane attack than relying mostly on Embiid.

Maxi had 39 points, three rebounds, eight assists and two steals.

The Cleveland Cavaliers’ seven-game winning streak ended on Sunday, as the shorthanded Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the NBA’s hottest team with a 121-113 victory on their home floor. It’s the Cavs’ first loss since Jan. 30, before they acquired James Harden, Keon Ellis and Dennis Schroder to join Donovan Mitchell, Kenny Atkinson and company at the trade deadline. After falling into a 28–5 hole in the opening seven minutes due to a 10-turnover start, Cleveland battled back.

“The recovery was great,” Harden said after the game. “Don’t turn the ball over, get shots at the rim, and then defensively, step back, stay in front of your man, contest shots. We’re pretty good. It’s just us doing that every night. It’s a different team. Even without Shai [Gilgeous-Alexander]without j-dub [Jalen Williams]They’re still obviously a very good defensive team.

Sam Merrill said, “Probably the best defense this league has seen in a while.” “Even with some of their leading scorers out, they still have a lot of good defensive players. You just get avalanches to start the game; that’s what happened last year. Obviously, we responded a lot better this time. Gotta figure out the turnovers. But that’s just not the way they defend. Even without SGA and Jalen Williams, they really move the ball. They cut, they pass. Obviously, they Shot the ball really well today.”

Led by Cason Wallace, Isaiah Joe and Jaylin Williams, the Thunder made 14 of 22 three-ball attempts in the first half. The Cavs got into a better rhythm in the second quarter and hung on well enough to wreak havoc with the defensive pressure led by Ellis and Schroder, and the halftime margin was only nine. Merrill felt the Cavs made simple plays to counter the home team’s early punches.

“I think we got a little rushed to start. The margin probably wasn’t good to start with,” Merrill said. “You still want to play with speed, obviously, but doing that by getting into the right spots and not playing too fast, I think, has helped.”

Cleveland struggled to take the lead at times midway through the third quarter, yet OKC could not hold on.

Donovan Mitchell said, “Missed some easy looks, had some key defensive rebounds that we didn’t get. I’m not really worried about that start.” “The biggest thing is that once we got to the point where it was 67-67, for me it was, ‘Okay, how do we fix it from there?'”

“I felt like we had some bad offensive possessions that allowed them to get transition buckets,” Cavs head coach Kenny Atkinson said. “The quality of our shot wasn’t very good. I probably blame the offense more than the defense for that. With this team, you can’t give them possession, whether it’s turnovers or bad shots. They’re No. 1 in the league in transition efficiency. They cause turnovers, which is the equivalent of layups. And if you take bad shots, they go down, and they score.”

Although Atkinson didn’t like some of those possessions in the latter half of the game, Cleveland still shot 48.3% from the field and outrebounded the Thunder in the paint 56-40 overall. The problem is that OKC scored a total of 31 points on 17 possessions in the opener. The Cavs had 20 points each from Mitchell, Merrill and Harden, but the big players were not involved against the Thunder frontcourt, possibly due to the threat of their passing-lane defense.

The Cavs’ recurring problem comes at the wrong time.

Very often, especially in the final period, a familiar issue rears its head.

“I felt like they got some important offensive rebounds when we got stops,” Atkinson said. “We’ve got to clean it up. For me, that’s our Achilles heel right now, defensive rebounding. They got some big ones at the end. Best team in the league, extra possessions. It really hurts you.”

“I think we just have to work on rebounding,” Mitchell said. “That’s been an ongoing theme. We’ve got to bounce back and give ourselves a chance to get out there and get there. Once we get back [from the deficit]We were just giving them extra opportunities. Some people took shots, credit goes to them, it is not necessary that they always take shots. But at the same time, it’s easier to make threes when you don’t get the rebound. These are the things I focus on. We’ll see it on film and get better.”

If you look at the stat sheet, the battle of the boards was also at 44 copies. However, the difference between Chet Holmgren’s 15 and Evan Mobley’s 2 sticks like a sore thumb compared to the Jarrett Allen-Isaiah Hartenstein matchup that was in favor of the wine and gold (13-7).

These were the times OKC kept it alive or the key points in the game where the Cavs needed to come up with the basketball that hurt them. Gang rebounding needed to improve in those situations, especially when Mobley and Allen were switching near the perimeter.

“We missed some open looks, which happens, but we couldn’t get the boards,” Mitchell said. “Hertenstein, I think we were up one or the game was tied, and he scored six straight points, two of them off Hartenstein’s floaters. Little things like that. Or, we make a great possession play, the ball is on the floor, JA gets in the back door because we’re trying to scramble.

“It’s little things like that on top of rebounding. When you’re against a team like that, every little thing matters a lot. We’re not sitting here with our heads down. We’ve got things we can clean up, and we’ll figure it out and get better.”

After all, there’s no need to point any fingers after the new-look version of Cleveland loses its first game.

“We did a lot of positive things,” Mitchell said. “We’re still figuring things out as a group. Even in that fourth quarter, figuring out, ‘Okay, is it me or is Eve coming to set the screen? Is it JA? Is it Sam? Sam is Roller, what are you doing?’ There are a lot of things to figure out. At the end of the day, we won’t turn our heads over this. This is a part of it. “We weren’t going to go 29-0, but we still have stuff to clean up and fix.”

“Listen, it’s no excuse, but it’s a tough schedule: 3-in-4, afternoon games,” Atkinson said. “On the road, it makes it a little different. It is what it is, and we have to overcome those tough schedule games. I’m proud of the way the guys battled and gave us a chance.”

Although it may be lacking now, it could eventually pay off if Cleveland uses it correctly.

“This is our sixth game together,” Harden said. “I think it’s bigger than them. I think it’s on us every night, no matter who we’re playing. It’s a lot of things we’re still figuring out — rotations, lineups, all that stuff. Once we get to that and figure out how we’re playing and the lineups and all that, we’ll be a lot better. But give them credit, they played a great game today and we still have some work to do.”

“The games and the reps. You look at this team. They’ve had postseason failures a few years and they’re finally over the hump. It all takes time, so these games are very valuable. We’ve got to cherish them like practice in games because it’s our sixth game. Lesson learned. Watch film, get better, and be ready for the next game.”

The Los Angeles Lakers got off to a strong start to the unofficial second half of their season on Friday with a narrow home win over the Los Angeles Clippers thanks to great play from Luka Doncic. They’ll try to keep things going on Sunday with a big game at the Boston Celtics, in the latest edition of the NBA’s most historic rivalry.

Before the game, the Lakers received a pep talk from an unexpected source: golf legend Tiger Woods.

“The Lakers continued their ‘Genius Talks’ series with a field trip to Riviera Country Club on Saturday for the Genesis Invitational, with Rob Pelinka arranging Tiger Woods’ visit and address for the team,” former NBA insider Dave McMenamin of ESPN reported on Twitter.

Previous guests on the series have included actor Will Smith, among others.

The Lakers will certainly need all the expertise they can get on Sunday against a Celtics team that has not lived up to expectations so far this season, looking like a legitimate contender in the Eastern Conference despite playing without Jayson Tatum, who is close to returning from his Achilles injury.

The Celtics began their post-All-Star Game slate with a blowout win over the shorthanded Golden State Warriors on Thursday, and the Lakers will have to do their best to protect Boston wing Jaylen Brown, who has worked his way into fringe MVP conversations for his play so far this year.

Of course, the Celtics will have no easy task in themselves as they attempt to guard the Lakers’ three-headed snake of Luka Doncic, LeBron James and Austin Reaves, who had a solid game against the Clippers on Friday.

In any case, the Lakers and Clippers are set to kick off in Los Angeles on Sunday at the unusual start time of 6:30 pm ET, with the game being televised by NBC.

The Boston Celtics are back from the All-Star break on a mission. They beat the Golden State Warriors in their first game after the break and had a solid start against the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday night.

The Celtics have the second-best record in the Eastern Conference, behind the Detroit Pistons. And they have won 10 of their last 13. The Celtics are hoping to continue their winning ways against the Lakers on a night when the franchise will honor legendary head coach Pat Riley.

The Celtics weren’t fazed in the first half. They took a 60–50 lead into the locker room at halftime, and they had stellar performances from starters Jaylen Brown (13 points, 4 rebounds, 6 assists) and Derrick White (10 points, 5 assists) and Payton Pritchard (11 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists) off the bench.

Pritchard made an incredible move when he hit a Step-back 3-point shot In the middle of the second quarter. During the game, he pretended as if he was going inside and Laker defender Jared Vanderbilt drove towards the paint. Instead, Pritchard took a step back and hit a 3-pointer. As the shot hit the net, Vanderbilt lost his balance and fell to the floor, 20 feet away from Pritchard.

If that wasn’t enough, Pritchard had the ball as the clock ran out in the final moments of the second quarter. As soon as the horn sounded, he hit a long 3-pointer over Luka Doncic, giving the Celtics a 10-point lead midway through the game.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Without three of their top four scorers, the Oklahoma City Thunder defeated Donovan Mitchell, James Harden and the Cleveland Cavs – 121-113 – at Paycom Center on Sunday. The defending champions took a 28-5 lead in the opening frame. Without the Thunder’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams, the starters took advantage of defensive stops and elite shooting as Oklahoma City drained eight of its 21 threes in the first quarter.

In regards to who would guard Mitchell and Harden, Thunder coach Mark Daigneault revealed that the defensive assignment of Lou Dort over Mitchell won a 6–5 vote among his coaching staff. Cason Wallace spent most of the game facing Harden. Mitchell scored 20 points, but it took him nearly 20 attempts (9 of 19) to get there, as he was 0 of 6 from deep.

Harden scored 20 points on 8-of-14 shooting, nine assists and five rebounds. Wallace finished with 20 points with a career-high 10 assists and recorded his first double-double and three steals. Isaiah Joe’s 22 points led seven Thunder players into double figures, including Dort (12 points, two steals) and Oklahoma City’s entire starting lineup.

The defending champions’ strong defense forced 17 Cavs turnovers, which the Thunder converted into 31 points en route to an eight-point victory.

Cason Wallace shows off his signature performance in Thunder’s win

Thunder guard Cason Wallace understands the assignment ahead of Sunday’s matchup against the Cavs. Before facing one of the league’s highest scoring backcourts in Donovan Mitchell and James Harden. And while the Thunder’s newest guards in Jared McCann and Nicola Topic have gotten acclimated to their new surroundings, Wallace has helped fill the void left after losing All-Stars Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, Ajay Mitchell and Alex Caruso.

After the game, Wallace spoke to the media On his outlook ahead of the Thunder’s matinee matchup against the Cavs.

“I come into the game knowing that I have a high-level opponent that I have to guard against, you know, compete for minutes with him,” Wallace said. “First I had to slow him down. Then, offensively, we’ve got a lot of guys that are good at making plays. So, I can make some plays myself on offense, but those guys help me a lot on that end.”

Cason Wallace on the Thunder’s offense and OKC’s defense against the Cavs’ Mitchell and Harden: “Felt like we came in warmed up, had a little bit of momentum at the beginning of the game… I’ve got to slow it down first.

Then, offensively, we’ve got a lot of guys who are good at making plays.” pic.twitter.com/U65bg0x2bR

-Joshua Peacock (@Joe_Sway) 22 February 2026

The Thunder will travel to face the Raptors on Tuesday.

The 2025-26 NBA season is not going well for the Memphis Grizzlies, and it didn’t get any better for them on Saturday, when they lost to the Miami Heat by a score of 136-120.

A big reason for the Grizzlies’ struggles in the campaign are the injuries they have been dealing with.

According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, Memphis reportedly made a move to add a healthy body to the roster on Monday, as they added a former Portland Trail Blazers player to the team.

From Charania on

The 21-year-old Rupert entered the league in 2023 when the Trail Blazers used their No. 43 pick in that year’s NBA draft on him. In 139 games played over two seasons for Portland, Rupert averaged 3.2 points, 1.8 rebounds and 0.9 assists while shooting only 36.7 percent from the field and 31.7 percent from behind the arc.

The 6-foot-7 Rupert played his final game in a Portland uniform last Thursday on the road against the Utah Jazz, scoring two points, grabbing four rebounds and recording a steal with two turnovers in 16 minutes of action in the 135-119 win. The next day, the Trail Blazers decided to waive him after promoting Sidi Sissoko to make room on the 15-man roster.

The move to the Grizzlies presents an opportunity for Rupert, who has a fully guaranteed $2.2 million contract through the 2025-26 season, to see a larger role on the court.

LOS ANGELES – When JJ Redick was first hired as head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers, he was compared to the great Pat Riley. Redick’s path to coaching followed a similar story, in that he went straight into broadcasting after retirement and had no prior coaching experience before joining the Lakers staff in 1979.

Before the Lakers’ game against the Boston Celtics on Sunday, Pat Riley was honored with a statue outside Crypto.com Arena, the latest in a long list of franchise legends immortalized outside the Lakers’ home arena.

During his pregame press conference, JJ Redick talked about Riley’s influence on coaching, along with comparisons to the legendary Lakers coach.

Redick said, “I didn’t think much about the comparisons at the time. I think Pat kind of set the standard for modern NBA coaches. I’ve always looked at the NBA as two different eras.” “You can make the demarcation point right at the time of the merger or right in 80-81 when Dallas joined as the 23rd team.”

“And that, to me, is the beginning of the modern NBA. And that’s right when the ’80s Lakers run started,” Redick continued. “Pat set the standard for what a modern NBA coach should be.”

Redick is in the second year of his four-year contract, which he signed as head coach of the Lakers through the 2024 offseason. In his first year, he led the Lakers to a 50–32 record and the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference playoff picture.

In comparison, Riley led the Lakers to a 50–21 record after taking over as head coach during the 1981–82 season. His overall record was 57–25. The Lakers would win the title that year, starting a streak of eight consecutive NBA Finals appearances with a total of four championships.

Pat Riley’s thoughts on JJ Redick

Pat Riley’s final two seasons as head coach coincided with the first two seasons of JJ Redick’s NBA career. But even after returning to an officiating role with the Miami Heat, he had to worry about game-planning for Redick.

Although Riley has been employed by the Heat organization since 1995, he still keeps an eye on his old team, and believes they hit a home run with Redick Hires.

“I love JJ, I really do. I competed against him, my teams competed against him,” Riley said during a media availability session before the game. “Sometimes I look back and I miss that time. And I look at JJ and I think they picked the right person. I think there’s just that quality about him that goes beyond that.”

While not identical to the roster Riley was working with when he first became head coach of the Lakers, Redick had to integrate the talents of LeBron James, Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves together. Riley believes the Lakers have a good team and the organization has put Redick in a position to succeed.

“They have a great team right here for that [Luka] Doncic and [Austin] With Reeves and obviously LeBron,” Riley said. “I think Rob [Pelinka]. . .And the new ownership will build the team to compliment those players, but they have a great opportunity. I think JJ will be a good coach for them.

When it comes to thinking about the gold standard of NBA coaches, not many names come to mind other than Pat Riley. Despite winning championships five times as a head coach, twice as an executive, twice as a player and once as an assistant coach, his titles paint only a part of the picture of his career with the Miami Heat, New York Knicks and Los Angeles Lakers.

Appropriately, Showtime recently unveiled a statue commemorating his legacy, and Riley was asked a simple question about current NBA coaches.

According to a post on And well, as far as that reaction is concerned, it’s no surprise.

Riley, now 80 and still serving as president of the Miami Heat, became the first coach in Los Angeles Lakers history to receive the statue, placing him alongside names like Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O’Neal, Jerry West and Chick Hearn. With the Lakers, Riley reached seven NBA Finals during his nine-season tenure from 1981 to 1990.

However, this is only a small part of his legacy. In his career as a player, assistant coach, head coach and executive, he has nine championship rings, including a 1972 title as a Lakers player, multiple titles as an architect of Showtime, the Miami Heat’s successful 2006 championship as a head coach, and executive titles in 2012 and 2013 during Miami’s Big Three era. He remains the first major North American sports figure to win championships in all four of these roles.

A member of the Hall of Fame since 2008, Riley is often regarded as “The Godfather” of the NBA, and there was never any doubt that he would still wear an Armani suit if he coached in the world’s best basketball league.

Across the overall NBA landscape, there aren’t many individuals who have had a bigger impact than former Los Angeles Lakers and Miami Heat coach Pat Riley. While most people know him for his work as head coach and president of the Heat, Riley has also left a great legacy with the Lakers.

Due to this, Showtime immortalized his legacy by unveiling a statue outside the Crypto.com arena, with the now 80-year-old man himself attending the event along with several prominent figures from the Lakers’ past, including Magic Johnson, according to a post on X by Heat Culture.

🚨 Pat Riley Statue Unveiled 🚨 pic.twitter.com/IIDuJqgNTn

– Heat Central (@HeatCulture13) 22 February 2026

Riley’s nine-year head coaching run with the Lakers from 1981 to 1990 produced an astonishing 533–194 record (.733 winning percentage), four NBA championships and seven Finals appearances. More importantly, he served as the architect of the Showtime Lakers, a dynasty built around superstars like Magic and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

The statue makes Riley the first coach in Lakers history to receive such recognition, joining icons such as Magic himself, Kobe Bryant, Jerry West, Shaquille O’Neal and legendary broadcaster Chick Hearn. While Showtime is often remembered for its core offense, Riley also emphasized physicality and defensive discipline, popularizing principles such as the 1-3-1 half-court trap and cementing his famous championship mantra that rebounding and defensive commitment bring titles, the same system he also brought forward for the Heat.

Glad the Lakers erected a statue to their greatest coach [squints] nic cage

– Robbie Kalland (@rkalland.bsky.social) 2026-02-22T21:55:05.053Z

His Lakers teams reached four consecutive Finals and produced one of the greatest single-season teams of all time in 1987, finishing 65–17 before defeating Boston for the championship. Riley also fulfilled one of the NBA’s most prestigious guarantees, promising a repeat title in 1988 and becoming the first team to successfully defend the championship in nearly two decades.

During his coaching career, Riley earned five championships as a head coach, produced 17 seasons of 50-plus wins, seven 60-win campaigns and earned Coach of the Year honors with three different franchises, the Lakers, Knicks and Heat.

The Orlando Magic (29-26) listed Jalen Suggs as questionable due to back spasms ahead of Sunday night’s game against the Los Angeles Clippers (27-29). The game will begin at 9:00 PM ET on NBA TV and will be the second night of a back-to-back for Orlando.

Suggs was ruled out before Saturday’s 113-110 double-overtime loss to the Phoenix Suns. The 24-year-old guard last appeared in the Magic’s 131-94 win over the Sacramento Kings coming out of the All-Star break and starting their four-game road trip. In that contest, Suggs recorded nine points, three rebounds, three assists and one block while shooting 3-for-8 from the field and 3-for-7 from 3-point range in 20 minutes.

On the season, Suggs has averaged 13.9 points, 5.4 assists, four rebounds and a career-high 1.9 steals per game in 34 appearances. The former All-Defensive Second Team selection is shooting 44.2% from the field and 32.8% from beyond the arc while playing 26.5 minutes per contest.

The Magic’s injury report lists Franz Wagner out under injury management with a high ankle sprain. The team has indicated that Wagner will be reevaluated in three weeks.

Magic, Clippers deal with key injuries ahead of matchup

Orlando is entering Sunday’s contest intent on responding after its narrow loss in Phoenix, where the Magic forced the Suns into double overtime despite missing key contributors.

The Clippers are also managing injuries. John Collins has been listed out with a head injury and neck pain. Kawhi Leonard is questionable with a sore left ankle after Friday’s 125-122 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers.

Additionally, Darius Garland – who was acquired from the Cleveland Cavaliers at the trade deadline in exchange for James Harden – is out with left foot injury management as he recovers from a surgically repaired toe injury.

With both teams managing key absences, availability could prove crucial in the Magic’s effort to extend their 29-26 start as they continue their road trip.

When a superstar of Ja Morant’s caliber is reported to be interested in a trade, much of the NBA community usually shuts up and takes notice. However, recent conversations suggest that the Memphis Grizzlies never had a strong trade market for the superstar, despite the fact that the franchise actively explored trade options before the deadline.

According to Marc Stein of The Stein Line, the Grizzlies may have to wait for teams like the Milwaukee Bucks in the summer to get an attractive return.

“Sources say Sacramento has shown only modest interest. I’m told Miami also inquired about Morant only with the idea of ​​acquiring him in a deal similar to Washington’s asset-light acquisition of Trae Young. And sources say the Heat were not actively pursuing Morant in the days before the deadline because Antetokounmpo had become their primary target,” he wrote.

Stein reports that multiple teams believe the Bucks’ interest in Morant is genuine, whether it’s to pair him with Giannis Antetokounmpo or as a potential successor.

“Many teams came out of the deadline believing that the Bucks’ interest in Morant was genuine … whether it was to establish him as Antetokounmpo’s eventual successor as the Face of the Franchise or because they believe they can truly create a Giannis-and-Ja pairing,” he wrote.

Memphis openly explored deals as part of a broader rebuild, having already traded forward Desmond Benn and Jaren Jackson Jr. for three first-round picks and young rotation pieces.

Despite Morant being a two-time All-Star and former franchise centerpiece after Memphis’ 56-win season and Western Conference Semifinal run, the interest hasn’t been pressing.
Sacramento’s involvement never progressed beyond exploratory dialogue, especially with Morant reportedly unwilling to play there. Miami showed interest and was widely believed to be Morant’s preferred destination, yet the Heat prioritized Giannis Antetokounmpo as their primary target.

Of course, Morant’s diminished value stems from availability and efficiency concerns. The 26-year-old has appeared in only 20 games this season, averaging 19.5 points and 8.1 assists, but recorded career lows in efficiency (41% FG, 23.5% from three).

Memphis is also just 7-13 in games played, and barring a quick return to form, the situation appears grim as far as genuine interest and an attractive trade package is concerned.

The Atlanta Hawks have had a somewhat disappointing season, but coming out of the All-Star break there is still time to turn things around. The Hawks sit at 27-31 on the season ahead of Sunday’s game against the Brooklyn Nets, and head coach Quin Snyder has made a surprising change to start it.

With the team needing a spark, Snyder selected 2024 No. 1 overall pick Zachary Rishachar over veteran guard C.J. McCollum. Rishacher showed promising signs as a rookie, but he has had a tough sophomore season as the pressure of being a former top pick began to mount.

McCollum started alongside Jalen Johnson, Dyson Daniels, Nickell Alexander-Walker and Onyeka Okongwu. Lauren L. of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. According to Williams, that five-man lineup came into Sunday’s game with a +18.7 point differential, the best mark on the team.

In a similar vein, Snyder hinted at potentially making this change after Atlanta’s 31-point loss to the Miami Heat on Friday night via Hawks beat writer Kevin Chouinard.

“This is our best lineup by far, from a plus-minus standpoint,” Snyder said. “You could make the argument that we should start that lineup…how can we best utilize CJ?”

McCollum came to the Hawks in one of the most notable moves of the season when Atlanta sent star point guard Trae Young to the Washington Wizards. Some believed McCollum would be traded upon arriving in Atlanta, but he has been a quality contributor for the Hawks since the trade.

Before Sunday, McCollum had appeared in 18 games for the Hawks and was averaging 19 points a game even in 30 minutes of action per night. Now without Young on the team, Atlanta is in desperate need of the scoring punch provided by McCollum as they try to maintain their position in the play-in tournament.

On the other side of the coin, a move to the bench will hopefully take some pressure off Rishaer and allow him to start playing his best basketball like he was starting last season. If he can rediscover that form, Atlanta will be a scary team come the postseason.

The Chicago Bulls will host the New York Knicks on Sunday evening. Bulls guard Anfernee Simmons has had his injury report dismissed. Simmons left the Bulls’ game against the Detroit Pistons on Saturday and did not return. Here’s everything we know about Anfernee Simmons’ injury and his playing status against the Knicks.

Afro Simmons injury status vs. Knicks

With Simmons out due to injury, the Bulls will be shorthanded against the Knicks. He suffered a wrist injury during the first half of the Bulls’ loss to the Pistons and was ultimately ruled out for the remainder of the game. The Bulls are coming into their game against the Knicks looking to snap an eight-game losing streak.

As things stand, the Bulls are currently 12th in the Eastern Conference standings and two games behind the Charlotte Hornets for the No. 10 seed and the final play-in spot.

Simmons was one of the Bulls’ trade deadline moves, acquiring him with the Boston Celtics in a deal that sent longtime Bull Nikola Vucevic to Boston. The Celtics also sent a second-round pick to the Bulls as part of the deal.

Since the trade, Simmons has appeared in six games for the Bulls, including five starts in just over 28 minutes per game. He averaged 15.2 points, 2.8 rebounds and 3.0 assists with splits of 43.8 percent shooting from the field, 32 percent shooting from the 3-point line and 100 percent shooting from the free-throw line.

oxen injury report

-Jack Collins out (sprained right toe)
-Noah Asengue out (left shoulder surgery)
-Jaden Ivy out (left patellofemoral pain syndrome)
-Nick Richards doubtful (right foot soreness)
-Anfernee Simmons out (left wrist sprain)
-Patrick Williams probable (injured left hand)

knicks injury report

-Pacom Dadiet out (G League assignment)
-Miles McBride out (pelvic core muscle surgery)
-Kevin McCullers Jr. out (G League two-way)
-Mitchell Robinson out (left ankle injury management)

The Chicago Bulls have found it difficult to win this season and currently sit in 12th place in the easy Eastern Conference standings with a 24-31 record. The Bulls showed signs of life before the trade deadline this time around, parting ways with players like Nikola Vucevic, Ayo Dosunmu and Coby White to pursue young players, while also acquiring significant draft capital.

And if rumors are to be believed, there will be plenty of activity this summer as well, with insider Jake Fisher claiming he will have significant spending power with a select few teams in the NBA.

According to The Stein Line, he said, “The Clippers, Lakers, Nets and Bulls, however, are in position to spend some big money. Sources say Chicago has already sent some signals that it will consider wings – including as restricted free agents – while the Bulls also clearly need a starting-caliber big man.”

Fisher claimed that the Washington Wizards’ moves for Anthony Davis and Trae Young, as well as the Utah Jazz’s move for Jaren Jackson Jr., mean those two teams no longer have the financial means to make big moves in the summer.

Regardless, the Bulls primarily accumulated a second-round pick in the moves before the previous deadline. The situation worsened when the previously included 2029 second-round pick was reportedly removed due to medical findings on White’s calf injury, further reducing Chicago’s return.

At the same time, the plan appears simple. The Bulls are looking to build around players like Josh Giddy and Matas Buzelis, even if they are not yet viewed as stars capable of bringing them back to playoff relevance.

The overall strategy seems almost encouraging given the current trajectory, with the Bulls’ recent skid improving their draft lottery prospects significantly. After years of hovering around the .500 mark and searching for playoff relevance, there was no doubt that a reset was inevitable.

Whether this leads to success in the coming season remains to be seen.

The Milwaukee Bucks recently disappointed the NBA world by not trading Giannis Antetokounmpo at the deadline, despite heavy noise from league reporters that a deal was on the horizon. Antetokounmpo is currently out of the lineup due to injury, and the team has fallen down in the Eastern Conference playoff standings as a result.

Despite holding firm at the deadline, not everyone is convinced that Milwaukee will be Antetokounmpo’s home for the long term.

Recently, NBA insider Jake Fisher detailed his belief that the Bucks will end up trading the Greek Freak in the summer, noting that it is “undeniably true that the Bucks are going to get more attractive offers in the offseason than they do this month,” according to Mark Stein of Substack.

Fisher also reported that he is “hearing rival teams talking loudly about Brooklyn emerging as a credible destination, as the Nets have a large amount of draft capital to package with Michael Porter Jr.” And one of the Western Conference teams that inevitably disappoints in this year’s playoffs could be interested in Antetokounmpo after the fact.

Antetokounmpo and the Bucks have won only one playoff series since their NBA championship in 2021, and injury concerns have become a big issue for the star over the past few seasons, especially in regards to his calf, which is often seen as a precursor to a potentially much more devastating Achilles injury.

Meanwhile, it remains to be seen if the Bucks will bring back Antetokounmpo this year, as keeping him out would increase their chances of securing a good selection in the 2026 NBA Draft, although they would have to settle for their own selection and the New Orleans Pelicans’ lower selection.

In any case, it looks like NBA fans can expect the exhausting Antetokounmpo trade saga to heat up once again in the summer.

The Sacramento Kings are signing a former top-10 draft pick amid a historic losing streak. According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, Killian Hayes has agreed to a 10-day contract with the Kings, who have lost a franchise-record 16 consecutive games.

Hayes, the No. 7 pick in the 2020 NBA draft, spent three seasons with the Detroit Pistons before they released him midway through the 2023-24 campaign. He signed with the Brooklyn Nets last season and spent most of his time with the team’s G League affiliate before a short NBA stint on a 10-day contract.

The 6-foot-5 point guard averaged 9.0 points, 3.0 rebounds and 5.2 assists on 42/38/83 shooting splits in 27.0 minutes per game in six appearances with Brooklyn. However, the Nets decided not to re-sign Hayes at the conclusion of a 10-day deal.

Killian Hayes signs 10-day contract with Kings after Cavs G League stint

Hayes turned down interest from the EuroLeague this offseason and signed a contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers before training camp. The Cavaliers waived him and assigned him to their G League affiliate. He impressed during his G League tenure, averaging 22.4 points, 4.1 rebounds, 8.4 assists and 1.6 steals on .474/.318/.804 shooting splits in 19 appearances.

Hayes should get a chance to prove his worth with the struggling Kings, who recently signed Zach LaVine, Domantas Sabonis and De’Andre Hunter out for the season.

With LaVine sidelined, Russell Westbrook has served as Sacramento’s starting point guard in recent games. Devin Carter has filled the point guard minutes on the second unit.

The Kings will travel to face the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday.

The New York Knicks made a strong comeback against the Houston Rockets and won. He displayed serious composure, which was in question in the previous defeat. Additionally, Karl-Anthony Towns and Jalen Brunson both played incredibly well – something that could have been expected on a regular basis early in the season, and yet something that hasn’t been seen nearly enough. But while the win should inspire optimism, the reason for the pause is the Detroit Pistons.

New York played a great fourth quarter in its recent win against Houston. They finished the game on a 33–13 run, which included Brunson’s 18 points. The Knicks also held the Rockets to 28% shooting in the final 10 minutes of the game. And their defense, led by new addition Jose Alvarado, forced several changes.

The Knicks have played well against more top teams than the Rockets. The Knicks have performed incredibly well against most of the league’s top competition this season. They are now 1-0 against Houston, 2-1 against Boston Celtics, 2-0 against Cleveland Cavaliers, 1-0 against Denver Nuggets, 1-0 against Los Angeles Lakers and 1-1 against San Antonio Spurs.

However, they have struggled mightily against the Pistons, a team they will likely see in the 2026 playoffs. In fact, New York is 0-3 against Detroit on the season, and their next matchup is scheduled for (much) later in the season.

Are the Pistons too tough for the Knicks?

The Pistons present completely different problems for the Knicks than other elite teams. First of all, there is their physicality Very To struggle. Detroit boasts the NBA’s second-best defensive rating (108.3). His size is challenging on the downside. Jalen Duren is eighth in the league in rebounds (10.5 per game), and Isaiah Stewart is sixth in blocks (1.2 per game). Ironically, neither Duren nor Stewart were available for the Pistons’ most recent win over the Knicks on February 19.

Pistons also push the limits of materiality and efficiency. According to Statmuse, he leads the league in fouls per game (22.3). And why not? When your team is built like Detroit, the only disadvantage in fouling is a penalty. Agreed, this is not ideal. But the cumulative effect of fouling results in a reputation bump that forces teams to think twice about how they attack open lanes.

The piston perimeter protectors are also exceptionally strong. Cade Cunningham and Auser Thomson are two of the best at blocking opposing perimeter players. And both are physical enough to compete with bigger wings in the post and around the basket.

It became clear that New York couldn’t match Detroit’s toughness while remaining focused and locked down.

Can the Knicks offense be consistent enough to take down the Detroit Pistons?

If the Pistons are a more physical team, which they are, the Knicks should emphasize their strength, finesse, and finesse. This is how New York defeated Detroit in the first round of the 2025 NBA Playoffs. Brunson took the lead. And for all the Pistons’ defensive abilities, they had no answer for Brunson when he was in his own zone and protecting the basketball.

In the 2025 playoffs, Brunson averaged 31.5 points and 8.2 assists per game. His footwork and finesse were on full display, including a series-clinching shot. If the Knicks are to be successful against the Pistons, Brunson will need to get back to that kind of game.

In the 2025–26 regular season, Brunson scored the ball very well, averaging 29.7 points per game. But he also turned the ball over. Very. Brunson averaged five turnovers per game in their regular season series against the Pistons, compared to just 2.6 turnovers per game in last season’s first round – and 2.3 turnovers per game the entire season (so far) this season.

Knicks supporters also need to do more. Towns and OG Anunoby missed the second of three games with the Pistons this season. But when he played he did not perform well enough. Towns averaged 13.5 points over the two games, and Anunoby averaged 6.5 points per game.

Granted, there are more failings to highlight – like how the Knicks crushed on the glass – but the simple fact is that when their second- and third-leading scorers add up to an average of 20 points per game, the Knicks are unlikely to perform well.

Fortunately, the Knicks have time to digest their recent loss against the Pistons and lick their wounds. New York has 25 games remaining before the playoffs, and their first-round rematch with Detroit is unlikely. That matchup will likely come later in the playoffs. So, the Knicks have some time to figure out how to approach the Pistons. But one thing is for sure, he has his work cut out for him.

Jason Terry knows a thing or two about excelling as a shooter.

The longtime NBA legend played 19 seasons in the league, winning the Sixth Man of the Year award during the 2008–09 season. Terry finished his career as a 38.0% shooter from beyond the arc, shooting a career-high 43.8% from 3-point range during the 2006–07 season, when the Dallas Mavericks posted the league’s best record at 67–15.

Terry currently serves as an assistant coach for the Utah Jazz, a role he has held since the 2022–23 season. One of the Jazz’s most promising young players is none other than Ace Bailey, who was their top pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. Bailey was selected with the fifth overall selection in the draft after averaging 17.6 points per game during his lone season at Rutgers.

In the first half of the season, the 6-foot-9 Bailey has played a key role in the rotation for the Jazz, averaging 11.7 points and 3.9 rebounds per game in 49 games and 38 starts. Terry has high expectations for Bailey, even comparing him to Hall of Fame guard Ray Allen when it comes to his early release.

Allen was a 10-time All-Star who is considered one of the best 3-point shooters of all time.

Terry said in a personal interview, “There are no limits for Ace Bailey, because he’s a blank canvas.” “He’s only 19 years old. He’s coming on. He’s raw, but he has supreme athleticism and shooting ability – he could be one of the great shooters from long range, when it’s all said and done. He has a quick release, and he gets it off. He gets it over quickly, kind of like a Ray Allen type of release. He doesn’t jump that high. But as far as hitting that shot. He gets it over with pretty quickly.”

So far this season, Bailey is converting 45.0% of his attempts and 34.0% of his 3-point shots. Terry said where Bailey will excel in his 3-point attempts is “coming off screens on pin downs” and shooting 3-pointers in transition.

Bailey clearly has a long way to go before he’s in the same league as Allen, but he’s getting significant playing time as part of a rebuilding effort in Utah. The 19-year-old ranks fourth in points and fifth in 3-pointers made on the Jazz.

As noted, Bailey only spent one year in college. Plus, considering Utah is in obvious rebuilding mode, he’ll have all the time in the world to develop. At 18-38, they currently sit in 13th place in the Western Conference after posting the worst record in the NBA last season at 17-65.

The sky is definitely the limit for the 6-foot-9 small forward.

The Detroit Pistons’ winning streak reached five games after defeating the Chicago Bulls 126-110. However, the exchange of emotions after the game took away much of the headlines from Saturday’s game.

Saturday night’s matchup marked the first time the Pistons shared the court with former teammate Jaden Ivy since the former first-round pick was traded to Chicago at the NBA trade deadline. The entire Detroit team went to talk to Ivy and give her a very emotional hug.

After the game, Detroit center Jalen Duren was asked about his bond with Ivey.

“He’s my brother, man. I came into the league with him since day one. He’s been family forever, brother. He’s my favorite player, I love that guy,” Duren said, fighting back tears.

Detroit found itself in a difficult situation regarding Ivey’s future. He suffered a devastating foot injury against the Orlando Magic when guard Cole Anthony dived into his foot. He was taken off the floor on a stretcher and missed the rest of his third season.

After completing his rehab, Ivy suffered another injury setback during the preseason. He required another surgery to repair his knee problem in the 2025–26 season. Due to injuries, his game was greatly affected and his numbers dropped significantly. His once unstoppable speed had diminished and his high-profile athleticism didn’t look the same.

Rather than wait for a recovery, the Pistons opted to deal Ivey to the Bulls for forward Kevin Huerter. Ivy was playing in a contract year as a restricted free agent. Detroit decided to give Ivy a fresh start elsewhere rather than wait for his recovery to agree to a contract extension.

Before that injury Ivey was putting up career-high scoring numbers. The Pistons were seeing a significant scoring surge with 17.6 points per game on 46% shooting from the field and 40.9% shooting from 3-point range.

Ivey was drafted by the Pistons along with Duren in the first round during the 2022 NBA Draft. The former Purdue guard was selected No. 5 overall before Detroit took Duren at No. 13 overall.

Jalen Duren dominates in return to the lineup

The Pistons received another boost to their roster after Duran returned from suspension. After missing the last two games against the Charlotte Hornets due to a concussion, the Pistons’ All-Star center looked like he didn’t miss a step against the Bulls.

Duren was a major focal point of Detroit’s dominance in their road win. He scored 26 points and pulled down 13 rebounds, his 25th double-double of the season. Duran’s offensive rebounding continued at a high level, with six more against Chicago.

The Pistons are still without backup center Isaiah Stewart for the next four games because of the fight. Veteran big man Paul Reed again performed well in Stewart’s absence, scoring 15 points and grabbing nine rebounds.

All-Star point guard Cade Cunningham nearly finished the night with a triple-double. Cunningham scored 18 points, dished out 13 assists and grabbed nine rebounds. Forward Tobias Harris also added 18 points in 30 minutes. Guard Duncan Robinson had a hot shooting night with 17 points and five 3-pointers.

The Denver Nuggets visit the Golden State Warriors on Sunday afternoon looking to build on the massive 157-point performance they scored against the Portland Trail Blazers last time out. However, while they have plenty of absent players to deal with, the Nuggets will be up against a team that is missing its best players.

According to the official injury report, Jamal Murray is on the injury report along with several Nuggets rotation players, while the star guard is listed as questionable due to a hamstring issue. Denver is also monitoring injuries to Aaron Gordon and Peyton Watson.

However, the Golden State Warriors have bigger concerns of their own, with Stephen Curry confirmed out, Jimmy Butler with Kristaps Porzingis also added to the injury list.

Jamal Murray’s injury status vs. Warriors

Given that Jamal Murray is questionable on the injury report, his availability will likely be determined closer to tip-off. Of course, given that he is having the best season of his career, he will likely be a big absence.

Murray is averaging 25.7 points, 7.6 assists and 4.5 rebounds, while posting an elite 61.5 true shooting percentage. His importance has increased even more without Nikola Jokic, with Murray upping his production to 27.8 points and 8.3 assists in 12 games.

Denver enters the game with a strong 21-10 road record as the No. 3 seed at 36-21, while Golden State is 29-27 and struggling without Stephen Curry. Despite this, the game promises to be close with both teams missing key players, especially Golden State.

nuggets injury report

Jamal Murray: Questionable (hamstring)

Aaron Gordon: Out (hamstring)

Peyton Watson: Out (hamstring)

Kyrie Irving: Out (knee surgery)

Derek Lively II: Out (foot surgery)

warriors injury report

Stephen Curry: Out (right kneecap injury/patella-femoral pain syndrome)

Jimmy Butler III: Out (ACL tear – season-ending)

Seth Curry: Out (injury management)

Nate Williams: Out (injury)

Malevi Lyons: Out (injury)

LJ Cryer: Out (injury)

Kristaps Porzingis: Probable (returning from injury/workload management)

On Saturday evening, the New York Knicks got back into the win column with a thrilling win over the Houston Rockets at Madison Square Garden. Despite falling behind by 18 points in the fourth quarter, the Knicks came back and ultimately won the game, shutting down Houston’s offensive attack.

It was a strong game for Knicks big man Karl-Anthony Towns, who scored 25 points with seven rebounds in the win.

After the game, Towns joined ESPN’s Inside the NBA for an interview, and Shaquille O’Neal had an interesting conversation with the Knicks’ big man.

“If you guys win the chip, sure they’ll talk about Brunson, but it’s you and your game. You have to be dominant. You played well,” O’Neal said, according to Hoopsship.

“As long as we get a ring they can talk to anybody about, that’s the most important thing,” Towns said.

“No, you have to play well. You’re part of that 1-2 punch,” countered Shaq.

Towns responded, “Yes, but the main goal is to win, no matter who gets the credit.”

“No, you have to play well to get credit,” Schock said.

O’Neal has long been known to be a critic of centers in today’s NBA, with some fans speculating that jealousy or malice may play a role in his disdain.

Perhaps O’Neal’s ‘me-first’ attitude was part of what made him so effective, but also why he is considered a relative underachiever in recent NBA history, given his natural talent.

Towns, meanwhile, has faced accusations of being “soft” earlier in his career, but he has always put the team before himself, which has continued into his time with the Knicks.

When New York next takes the field against the Chicago Bulls on Sunday, it will try to register two consecutive wins.

Jose Alvarado has quietly had a masterful start to life at the New York Knicks, but his comeback against the Houston Rockets thrust him firmly into the spotlight. In just 20 fourth-quarter minutes, the former New Orleans Pelicans man produced eight points, five steals, four assists and a game-best +18 plus-minus, along with a steal on Kevin Durant that resulted in Madison Square Garden booing loudly.

After the game, Alvarado revealed that he and KD were ‘totally in love’ despite the trash talk that happened between them during the game.

Jose Alvarado says there is “total love” between him and Kevin Durant:

“It’s a big brother. He showed a lot of love when I first came into the league. He loves me competing and obviously, he’s a KD. There’s just love, love.” pic.twitter.com/EXOCpZZ4kh

– Knicks Video (@sny_knicks) 22 February 2026

“It’s the big brother. He showed a lot of love when I first came into the league. He loves how I compete and obviously, he’s KD. There’s just love,” he said, according to a clip by Knicks Videos on X.

The Knicks trailed by nearly 16 points when Alvarado entered the game, and his defensive intensity and IQ were immediately on full display. The Knicks outscored Houston 33-15 in the fourth quarter, and much of that swing came from direct ball pressure from Alvarado.

In his five appearances so far, Alvarado has averaged approximately 13.3 points, 4.3 assists and 3.7 steals, while shooting over 55% overall and 37.5% from deep. Alvarado’s obvious impact was also praised by Karl-Anthony Towns, who himself had a big night against Houston.

“They made him feel loved and feel welcomed. I think he reciprocated that energy with his tenacity on the court. Hats off to our fans who welcomed him and gave him the confidence, belief and love to do what he does best,” Catt said, also crediting Knicks supporters for welcoming the point guard.

Karl-Anthony Towns talks about the spark Jose Alvarado gave the Knicks and credits Knicks fans for welcoming him:

“They made him feel loved and welcomed. I think he repaid that energy with his tenacity on the court. Hats off to our fans who welcomed him… pic.twitter.com/biafemEB0E

– Knicks Video (@sny_knicks) 22 February 2026

Regardless, the Knicks as a unit responded with one of their most resilient performances in recent memory, and fans will hope they continue in the same manner as they attempt to compete at the top of the Eastern Conference.

The Dallas Mavericks are in uncharted territory, dealing with injury problems amid a 10-game losing streak that now takes them to last year’s finalists, the Indiana Pacers. However, thankfully, while the Mavs come into this game with a ton of superstars, the same can be said about the Pacers.

To start things off, Cooper Flagg is on the injury report along with several key Mavericks contributors, with the rookie forward out with a medial left hamstring sprain. Meanwhile, Pascal Siakam has headlined a lengthy Pacers report and as per the official injury report, he is listed as questionable with left hamstring injury management.

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Cooper flag, Pascal Siakam’s injury status vs. Pacers

Given that Cooper Flagg has been officially ruled out on the injury report, expect Dallas to once again be without their No. 1 overall pick and primary offensive engine. Flagg has been the Mavericks’ most consistent performer this season, averaging 20.4 points and 6.6 rebounds.

The rookie sat out the Mavericks’ recent 122-111 loss to Minnesota with the same midfoot sprain. Without Flagg, and with Kyrie Irving and Derek Lively II also sidelined, Dallas is surrendering 117.4 points per game and will take some solace from the fact that the Pacers are also shorthanded.

Siakam is listed as questionable. He leads Indiana with 23.7 points and 6.7 rebounds per game, and his likely absence comes with Tyrese Haliburton already out for the season due to an Achilles tear.

However, many other players from both the teams are also sitting out.

mavericks injury report

Cooper Flagg: Out (middle left hamstring sprain)

Kyrie Irving: Out (left knee surgery)

Derek Lively II: Out (right foot surgery)

Max Christie: doubtful (sprained left ankle)

Daniel Gafford: Questionable (right ankle injury management).

Caleb Martin: Probable (left ankle sprain)

Moussa Cisse: Suspicious (two-way)

Ryan Nembhard: Questionable (two-way)

Miles Kelly: Potential (two-way)

pacers injury report

Pascal Siakam: Questionable (left hamstring injury management)

Andrew Nembhard: Questionable (lower back injury management)

TJ McConnell: Questionable (right hamstring soreness)

Kam Jones: Questionable (lower back pain)

Micah Potter: Questionable (left ankle sprain)

Quenton Jackson: Questionable (two-way)

Talon Peter: Suspect (two-way)

Tyrese Haliburton: Out (right Achilles tear)

Aaron Nesmith: Out (right ankle sprain)

Obi Toppin: Out (stress fracture of right foot)

Jonny Furphy: Out (ACL tear)

Ivica Zubac: Out (left ankle sprain)

The Oklahoma City Thunder host the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday afternoon. And if the official injury report is anything to go by, the defending champions will go into this match with a significantly reduced staff.

Alex Caruso joins franchise cornerstone Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and forward Jalen Williams as all three are not expected to play, according to the official injury report. Caruso has been officially ruled out due to a sprained left ankle suffered during Oklahoma City’s 105-86 win over the Brooklyn Nets on Friday.

MVP contender Gilgeous-Alexander has been sidelined with an abdominal strain while Williams is out with a strained right hamstring. However, this is not the end of the injury problems for the Thunder, with Ajay Mitchell and Thomas Sorber also unavailable for this game.

The Thunder enter this game as the clear favorites with a record of 43–14. However, they face a team that is most expected to emerge as title contenders, especially after the acquisition of James Harden, who has performed strongly on the floor. Apart from the absences, that means OKC could have a lot going on against the Cavs.

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Injury status of Alex Caruso, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams vs. Cavaliers

Alex Caruso missed Oklahoma City’s 105-86 win over Brooklyn with an injury, and the Thunder will take a cautious approach given his importance. Caruso continues to be one of Oklahoma City’s most destructive perimeter defenders and has the potential to perform well in the postseason.

This injury becomes even more damaging, as Oklahoma City is already without two of its primary offensive creators. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams represent a major part of their offensive threat, which puts more pressure on players like Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein.

thunderbolt injury report

Outside:

Alex Caruso: left ankle sprain

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: Abdominal strain

Jalen Williams: right hamstring strain

Ajay Mitchell: Abdominal strain/sprain in left ankle

Thomas Sorber: Perfect ACL Surgical Recovery

cavaliers injury report

Outside:

Max Straus: Jones fracture surgery of left leg

Riley Minix: G League Two-Way

Tristan Enaruna: G League Two-Way