The 2025-26 season remains as unfavorable as ever on the injury front for the Denver Nuggets. Most of their key men have missed significant time due to injuries, and on Wednesday night, it was Jamal Murray’s turn to suffer an illness as he was forced out of the contest against the Boston Celtics early.

The good news is that the Nuggets still took care of business against the Celtics at home, earning a 103-84 win over one of the hottest teams in the association, and the team has proven time and again that they can handle the absence of their key players.

But it seems like Murray should never have suited up for the Nuggets on opening night. After the game, head coach David Edelman revealed that Murray had been heavily medicated beforehand to try to get him healthy enough to play, but he couldn’t move forward easily For the entire game.

“He looked terrible. They gave him all the medications. It didn’t help. All kinds of physical things were happening,” Edelman said, via Vinny Benedetto of The Denver Gazette.

Jamal Murray could be in line for a few days’ rest with the Nuggets

Murray deserves credit for trying to carry on and play despite the illness. But the Nuggets need to prioritize the long game.

The battle for position in the West is as heated as ever, but there’s no reason to risk life and limb in a regular season game.

Murray scored only two points in eight minutes of play, before exiting the game due to illness. The Nuggets have a day off before facing the Oklahoma City Thunder on the road, though it remains to be seen whether Murray will be healthy enough by then.

The Denver Nuggets host the Boston Celtics at Ball Arena in Denver on Wednesday night for a dominant showdown. However, Denver received some worrying news in the first half, when star point guard Jamal Murray left the game due to illness.

“Jamal Murray is questionable to return with illness,” Vinny Benedetto of The Denver Gazette reported via a social media post on Twitter from the former star.

Before exiting the game, the former Kentucky Wildcats star point guard had two points on 1-for-3 shooting from the field and an assist in just eight minutes of action.

This story is being updated.

The Sacramento Kings entered the season fresh on Wednesday, ending a 16-game losing streak in the NBA. Now they’ve seen Keegan Murray exit the Houston Rockets game with a possible foot ailment.

Murray suffered an NBA injury with about 3:25 left to play in the first quarter at Toyota Center.

Keegan Murray headed to the Kings locker room after getting into the game awkwardly.

Hope he is okpic.twitter.com/KQi9RSYPNe

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 26 February 2026

Murray averages 14.5 points per game for Doug Christie and Sacramento. But now he has been officially ruled out due to a left ankle injury.

UPDATE: The Kings announced that Keegan Murray (left ankle) is out for the remainder of tonight’s game against the Rockets. https://t.co/9qeVZ3CuYW

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 26 February 2026

He was satisfied with only three points in a span of nine minutes. Murray grabbed a rebound and blocked a shot on the defensive side.

Kings are trending towards landing the top pick of the NBA draft

Murray has emerged as one of the better performers in a lost season in Sacramento.

Despite this, the Kings are on their way to achieving another feat: capturing the No. 1 spot in the NBA Draft.

ClutchPoints’ Eric Slater reveals where the Kings stand in the race for the top pick.

The nets lost. The Pelicans won.

Brooklyn is getting more segregation in third place in the lottery standings. pic.twitter.com/Ny0H3aSZ3L

– Eric Slater (@erikslater_) 25 February 2026

Based on current projections, Sacramento remains ahead of the Indiana Pacers and Brooklyn Nets. However, finishing with the league’s worst record does not guarantee the top pick in this scenario.

The Dallas Mavericks benefited from the lottery system last season – earning the top spot despite finishing at 39-43. Cooper Flagg arrived at the move a month later.

While ESPN NBA insider Zach Lowe believes Luka Doncic is a basketball “genius”, he can no longer tolerate his frequent complaints to the referees and has called the Los Angeles Lakers star unwatchable.

The LA Lakers certainly don’t regret their spectacular trade from a year ago that landed them Luka Doncic, one of the best players in the NBA. In his first full season in LaLa Land, the 26-year-old not only leads the Lakers in scoring, but his 32.5 points average currently tops the league. He is second in the NBA in three-point makes (3.6) and third in assists (8.6).

Furthermore, the LA Lakers have a record of 34–23, which is sixth best in the conference. Although the LA Lakers may not want to be at this point in the season, they are still in the early stages of building a proper team around their new top star. However, despite his play, the reputation he grew in Dallas has begun to become a fixture in the team’s games this season, and he is constantly complaining.

Doncic’s constant nagging of NBA referees to call fouls is a common complaint about the six-time All-Star. And as he gets older, it’s getting worse. It’s gotten so bad lately that Zach Lowe is upset about it and he made a funny but fair comment about the Slovenian this week.

Luka Doncic stats: 32.5 ppg, 7.8 rpg, 8.6 apg, 1.4 spg, 35% 3pt

Lowe said in a new edition, “The crying is at an extreme level in Dallas. It’s every bullshit game.” zach lowe show. “Just play, man. Not everything is a foul. And, it’s almost like, are you playing to get fouled or are you playing basketball?

“Are you playing one-on-one with the referee, or are you playing a game? It’s every single possession now, it’s completely out of control, it’s absolutely unwatchable.”

While Lowe is tired of the constant complaining, he admitted that he is more frustrated because it is not absolutely necessary, and Doncic is a “basketball genius” who can “get any shot.” Unfortunately for him and other NBA fans, there are no signs that the LA Lakers star will stop his constant crying anytime soon.

After earning a journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos worked as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sacca… More about Jason Burgos

The NHL is back, and so are the New Jersey Devils. The first night of game action following the Olympic break consisted of eight games. The Devils host the Buffalo Sabres, who face 25 playoff games.

Why like playoffs at this point?

Well, they are on the verge of losing their season with a 2.4% chance of reaching the playoffs. The Devils are 11 points out of a playoff position with little runway to make up any ground.

Jack Hughes—who was in Washington DC yesterday with Team USA, having been invited by the President of the United States to the State of the Union address—remains questionable in terms of his availability. However, barring an unknown injury, it would be surprising to see him sit out.

Washington is only a few hours away by car.

Let’s dive into tonight’s matchup.

What to know vs Sabers

—The Devils defeated Buffalo in a 5–0 shutout win on November 28 in Buffalo, but lost 3–1 on home ice about a month later.

– Jake Allen recorded 42 saves in the 5-0 shutout, a season-high for the veteran netminder.

2025-26 vs sabers

11/28/25 W 5-0 Key Bank Center

12/21/25 L 3-1 Prudential Center

2/25/26 7:00 PM ET Prudential Center

devils vs sabers

All-time record: 75-51-13-9

All-time home record: 40-25-6-3

All-time road record: 35-26-7-6

Projected Devils Lineup*

Ahead

Timo Meyer – Nico Hischier – Dawson Mercer

Jasper Bratt – Jack Hughes – Connor Brown

Arseny Gritsyuk – Cody Glass – Lenny Haminaho

Paul Couture – Nick Bjugstad – Maxim Tsyplyakov

defenseman

Brett Pesce – Jonathan Kovacevic

Jonas Seigenthaler – Dougie Hamilton

Brendan Dillon – Simon Nemec

goaltender

jacob markstrom

jake allen

*Lineup is subject to change

Current injuries: Jack McEwen (upper body, out for the season), Luke Hughes (separated shoulder).

2025-26 Total man-games lost: 255

Projected Sabers Lineup*

Ahead

Peyton Krebs – Tage Thompson – Alex Tuch

Jason Zucker – Ryan McLeod – Jack Quinn

Noah Ostlund – Josh Norris – Josh Doan

Josh Dun – Tyson Kozak – Beck Malensteen

defenseman

Mattias Samuelsson – Rasmus Dahlin

Bowen Byram – Owen Power

Zach Metsa – Michael Kesselring

goaltender

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen

Alex Lyon

How to watch the Devils game – 7:00 pm ET

See: MSGSN

Radio: Devils Hockey Net

next up

Thu, Feb 26 at 7:00pm PIT
Saturday, February 28, 5:00pm STL
Tuesday, March 3 vs FLA 7:00 PM

James is the fully certified New Jersey Devils beat reporter for New Jersey Hockey Now on SportsNote and … More about James Nicholls

The Oklahoma City Thunder visit the Toronto Raptors on Tuesday night looking to continue their recent form. The defending champions have won four of their last five matches and face a team that has also built momentum with two wins on the bounce.

According to the official injury report, the Raptors have been handed a big assignment with the return of Scottie Barnes to the roster. Barnes missed the win over the Milwaukee Bucks due to personal reasons, which was only the second time he did not suit up all season.

Meanwhile, the Thunder are missing several players, including players like Shai-Gilgeous Alexander and Jalen Williams, with Chet Holmgren and Alex Caruso both listed as questionable. However, they recorded a dominant win over the Cleveland Cavaliers last time out despite missing stars, with Holmgren running the show and finishing with 15 points and 17 rebounds.

Scotty Barnes’ injury status vs. Thunder

Barnes averaged 19.2 points, 8.4 rebounds and 5.6 assists, earning his second All-Star appearance. His return gives the Raptors some much-needed optimism, especially considering the Thunder’s absence.

The Raptors (34-23) didn’t miss Barnes on Sunday and beat the Milwaukee Bucks 122-94 behind an impressive 32-point performance from Immanuel Quickley. However, that is unlikely to be true against a team that has gone 44-14 so far in the league.

Of course, the Raptors are missing other players as well, with a series of rotational stars on G League assignment, with Jakob Poeltl not expected to suit up either.

Raptors injury report

Jakob Poeltl: Out (lower back strain – injury management)

Chucky Hepburn: Out (G League – Two-Way)

AJ Lawson: Out (G League – Two-Way)

Elijah Martin: Out (G League – Two-Way)

Jonathan Mogbo: Out (G League – On Assignment)

thunderbolt injury report

Alex Caruso: Questionable (left ankle sprain)

Chet Holmgren: Questionable (lower back spasms)

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: Out (abdominal strain)

Jalen Williams: Out (strained right hamstring)

Ajay Mitchell: Out (abdominal strain/left ankle sprain)

Thomas Sorber: Out (right ACL surgical recovery)

Things are looking bleak for the Chicago Bulls. They are going through a nine-match losing streak and some of their key players have been injured. One of which is Afernee Simmons, who is out with a wrist injury.

According to Casey Johnson of Chicago Sports Network, the Bulls announced a change to Simmons’ status for Tuesday’s game against the Charlotte Hornets. Although Simmons will not play, his left wrist is bruised, not sprained.

Simmons injured his wrist during Saturday’s game against the Detroit Pistons. He played 14 minutes and scored four points.

Meanwhile, Jalen Smith was listed as “questionable” due to a left calf strain. Smith was ejected in the third quarter against the New York Knicks on Sunday.

Simmons is averaging 15.2 points and 2.8 rebounds during six games played with Chicago. He arrived in Chicago as part of a trade that sent Nikola Vucevic to the Boston Celtics. Before that trade, Simmons had played 49 games with Boston and averaged 14.2 points per game.

The Bulls are 24-34 and have not won a game this month. After Tuesday, Chicago will be at home and close out the month on Thursday against the Portland Trail Blazers.

On Sunday, the Bulls begin March at home against the Milwaukee Bucks.

Additionally, Jaden Ivey is out with a sore right knee. Additionally, Jack Collins is out for a year after having toe surgery.

The Bulls once again struggled with a shaky, depleted roster in the second half of the season.

The Charlotte Hornets are set to make the debut of guard Coby White, who is battling a left calf strain. White will be ready for Charlotte when the team takes on the Chicago Bulls on Tuesday. He is listed as probable on the team’s injury report.

White used to play for the Bulls, so this will be somewhat of a revenge game for the experienced guard. This season, White is averaging 18.6 points per game. After spending several years in Chicago, he was traded to the Hornets in early February.

Charlotte has a record of 27–31 on the season. The club has lost two of its last three matches.

Kobe set to debut for White Hornets

White played his college basketball at North Carolina, so he’ll be playing in front of a lot of fans in Charlotte. The talented guard has averaged double figures in scoring in almost every NBA season he has played.

White says he was not at all surprised to be traded.

“Every time in my career I was like, I don’t think [it] Was [going to] That’s really what happens,” White said, according to the Associated Press. “But with the circumstances now, you know, a lot of us are coming into free agency this summer. And the team had to go in a certain direction, in a way. So, I wasn’t really surprised or anything like that.

This season with the Bulls, White started 26 games while appearing in 29 contests. He last played on February 3 in a match between the Bulls and Milwaukee Bucks. He scored 21 points in that game.

White is shooting nearly 44 percent from the field this season. His shooting statistics are down from last season, when he averaged over 20 points per game.

Charlotte and Chicago play Tuesday at 8:00 ET. Chicago’s record this season is 24–34.

The Atlanta Hawks have a chance to get back fully healthy for the first time in a long time, as Jonathan Kuminga’s status has been upgraded ahead of their matchup against the Washington Wizards. Kuminga has been dealing with a hamstring injury since his time with the Golden State Warriors and then joining the Atlanta Hawks and has yet to make his debut with his new team.

With Kuminga now being listed as questionable against the Wizards, it’s a good sign that he’s close to returning to the court.

Last week, the Hawks noted that Kuminga was making good progress from his bone bruise and would be re-evaluated in a week, with an update on his condition.

Kuminga was seen hitting some shots during the Hawks’ practice, which was a good indication of where he can be when he gets on the floor.

Adding Kuminga to the Hawks’ rotation could help improve their wing rotation, and his skill set could open things up for the rest of the team as well. His ability to drive and get into the lane will be key for the Hawks, whether he’s making shots or finding opposing teammates on kick-outs.

The Hawks recently made a lineup change, inserting C.J. McCollum into the starting lineup and moving Zachary Risacher off the bench. Head coach Quin Snyder said after their win against the Brooklyn Nets that the Hawks are better statistically when McCollum is on the floor with Dyson Daniels, Nickell Alexander-Walker, Jalen Johnson and Onyeka Okongwu, which proves why they made the move.

With Risacher being a wing, it will be interesting to see how those minutes off the bench are allocated when Kuminga is healthy, and if he can be on the floor at the same time.

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.

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)

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.

Ziare Williams will miss his second consecutive game for the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday. Brooklyn ruled Williams out of the match with the Atlanta Hawks due to personal reasons.

Williams played 22 minutes during Thursday’s 112-84 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers. However, the Nets ruled him out of Friday’s 105–86 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder due to personal reasons.

Williams has played a featured role with Brooklyn’s second unit this season. He has recorded the seventh-most minutes on the team, averaging 9.5 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game on .407/.313/.859 shooting splits in 39 appearances.

Ziaire Williams missing Nets vs. Hawks due to personal reasons

Ochai Agbaji has seen extended minutes in the Nets’ second unit over the last two games during Williams’ absence. The trade deadline acquisition recorded his best performance of the season on Thursday vs. the Cavs. He posted 13 points on 5-of-8 shooting from the field, three rebounds, three assists and one block and 3-of-6 from three in 28 minutes.

Nic Claxton will return from a two-game absence vs. Atlanta due to an ankle injury. The Hawks, who have lost four of their last five games, will be without Jonathan Kuminga because of a knee injury.

After three consecutive losses, the Nets have dropped to third in the draft lottery standings. They are tied in the win column and second in the loss column behind the Indiana Pacers.

After Sunday’s game against the Hawks, Brooklyn will return home for matchups with the Dallas Mavericks and San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday and Thursday, respectively.

SAN FRANCISCO – Among the stars the Golden State Warriors are credited with developing, hockey player Maclin Celebrini may turn out to be one of the most talented players of them all.

The son of Golden State vice president of player health and performance Rick Celebrini, the 19-year-old Maclin has achieved superstar status in the NHL for the revamped San Jose Sharks and Team Canada at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan. This is a miraculous achievement that not only has the hockey world excited, but the entire Warriors organization is also cheering him on.

Before Celebrini and Team Canada’s highly anticipated gold medal match with Team USA, Dubs coach Steve Kerr spoke at length about the kid’s inner excitement as he watched him shoot hoops after practice with his dad and some of the players.

“It’s been a lot of fun,” Kerr said. “Yesterday, in the film session, half our team was watching the last two minutes of the game, because it was 2-2. It was 10 o’clock, and we had to start the film, and we were like, ‘No, we’re gonna see what happens.'”

What happened was that Canada was leading Finland in the final minutes of the third period, and Celebrini finished with a team-high 25:53 TOI – an incredible feat for a young player.

But before becoming the youngest NHL player on Canada’s men’s Olympic team, Celebrini was on the hardwood when he wasn’t training on the ice. Kerr recounted several occasions when Maclin and his brothers would play 2-on-2 full court at the Dubs facilities after practice. You read that right, 2-on-2, full courtWith his mother, Robin, jumping as the fourth player to do the same split.

“You want to see an athletic family working out,” Kerr said with a laugh. “That’s one of the fun parts of the job, seeing the families be a part of it…it’s one of the best parts of the job. When we finish the game, every game, win or lose, we open the doors to the family room, and the kids come in in droves, and it’s awesome.

“I sit in my office, I have a beer, and I look down, and I see these little pickup games happening with our players’ kids and the coaches’ kids. People are running around and players are coming out, hugging their kids like it’s a special profession, you know, being able to share that with their kids and they have, you know, memories to last a lifetime, but also good perspective for everybody.”

Whether Kerr and the Warriors saw early signs of what Celebrity would become is debatable. For Moses Moody, who recalled the time the two spent over the summer rehabilitating their personal injuries, he always knew Celebrini was destined for greatness.

“You know that trend that was going on with LeBron? Telling how he knew from the beginning?” Moody smiled. “Yeah, when I first came here, I saw him and he had that look in his eyes! And I said he’s going to do that—no, I’m kidding.”

Although Moody may not have the vision that LeBron James has when it comes to Maclin, he is quickly making an impact on his youngest brother, RJ.

“Actually, his younger brother, the youngest brother. I talked to him for a while, and really, he has this quiet confidence and competitiveness, composure. I’m saying it already. I see something; got a look in his eyes. But even in Mac – he’s got that quiet confidence… Being around him, he doesn’t overdo it. But you can tell he’s working. He’s precise in conversation, you can just tell when someone is a thinker, More of a talkative type of person.”

In that vein, Kerr compared Celebrini’s maturity and leadership to that of another superstar—Stephen Curry. Kerr described intangible things you can’t teach. There’s no limit to where those traits can take him. But if you ask Gary Payton II, he believes Celebrini can enshrine his name among the greats.

“I think he’s eventually going to be one of them when it’s all said and done, like Wayne, Sid, Alex, Mac,” Payton said. “It’s exciting to see it from the beginning. [We’ll] Let’s see where it goes, and it’s going very, very well right now… I’m definitely supporting Mac.”

Even with the incredible opportunity to be with Team USA tomorrow on the global stage, Celebrini is just getting started. But for a Warriors organization that saw one of their own truly develop into the star everyone looks up to today, that’s a special, special thing.

“Everyone is busy, especially the people who have been here a while, who know Rick and Macklin and the family very well,” Kerr said. “So it’s been great to see it all develop. And to see the pride in Rick’s eyes and hear it in his voice, it’s amazing.”

The San Antonio Spurs released several injury updates ahead of Saturday’s matchup against the Sacramento Kings as they prepare to continue their strong effort atop the Western Conference standings.

San Antonio (39-16) will host Sacramento (12-45) at 5:00 pm PT, looking to extend their current seven-game winning streak to end a two-game homestand. Meanwhile, the Kings enter the contest trying to break a franchise-record 15-game losing streak.

According to the Spurs’ injury report released on Saturday, Harrison Ingram (G League – two-way) and Stanley Umude (G League – two-way) are listed as questionable. David Jones Garcia (G League – Two-Way) is out. Veteran center Mason Plumlee is also out of his return to competition. Lindy Waters III is listed as questionable with left knee hyperextension.

Spurs list Lindy Waters III questionable, Mason Plumlee out vs. Kings

The 28-year-old Waters last appeared in San Antonio’s 112-103 win over the Orlando Magic on Feb. 1. He played two minutes in that contest and recorded a turnover as his only statistic. In 28 games this season, Waters is averaging a career-low 1.9 points in 6.8 minutes per game, while shooting 35.2 percent from the field and 31.9 percent from beyond the arc. His current usage rate also marks a career low.

Plumlee, 35, joined the Spurs on a 10-day contract after being traded from the Charlotte Hornets to the Oklahoma City Thunder in a deal involving Ousmane Dieng and later being waived by Oklahoma City. The veteran center last played on December 22 in a 139–122 loss to Charlotte, finishing with five points and five rebounds on 2-4 shooting in 10 minutes. He later underwent surgery to treat a right groin injury and was sidelined.

In 14 appearances this season, including two starts, Plumlee is averaging 1.9 points, 2.9 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 8.9 minutes per game, while shooting a career-high 75 percent from the field.

With several rotations and depth pieces to deal with injuries, the Spurs will aim to keep the momentum going against a struggling Kings team to stop their skid.

Kon Knuppel made a splash with his performance in the Charlotte Hornets’ matchup with the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday night.

Knueppel is halfway through his rookie year in the NBA with the Hornets. He has made remarkable progress as one of the best-performing newcomers from the 2025 draft class, becoming a contender for Rookie of the Year.

The star rookie proved himself with another excellent performance against Cleveland. In 37 minutes of action, Knueppel had a stat line of 33 points, six rebounds, two assists and one steal. He made 11 of 20 shots from the field, including 7 of 15 from beyond the arc and 4 of 5 from the free-throw line.

Kon Knuppel in the Hornets’ loss to the Cavs tonight 🐝

33 points 11-of-20 FG
6 rebounds 7-of-15 3pts
0 turnover pic.twitter.com/hhvqBDhVu3

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 21 February 2026

It didn’t take long for fans to react to her performance, expressing their amazement at the newbie’s star talent. Here are some of their reactions.

One fan said, “Kon Nuppel kid is gonna be a problem. So good 💫.”

“This is a big night for Kon Knueppel – 33 points on 11/20 shooting and 7/15 from three is excellent efficiency – especially in 37 minutes. This kind of perimeter shooting shows confidence and ability to make serious shots,” another commented.

One commented, “Kon Knueppel dropped 33 points on 7 of 15 from three in the same night Donovan Mitchell scored 32 and the Cavs are showing they have a lot of ways to beat you. Knueppel is no longer a rookie, he’s a weapon.”

“33 in 37 minutes…that’s the real production 🔥,” one replied.

One fan said, “No need for that kind of “adjustment” from day one. It would be a travesty if he wasn’t rotten.”

Kon Nueppel, how the Hornets played against the Cavaliers

Despite notable efforts from Kon Knueppel, it was not enough as the Hornets lost to the Cavaliers 118–113.

Five players scored in double figures for Charlotte in the loss, including Knueppel. LaMelo Ball was next with 18 points and six assists, Brandon Miller had 18 points and four assists, Ryan Kalkbrenner added 12 points and 13 rebounds, while Josh Green added 11 points and two assists.

Charlotte finished the season with a 26–31 record and 10th place in the Eastern Conference standings. They are above the Milwaukee Bucks and Chicago Bulls, while trailing the Atlanta Hawks and Miami Heat.

The Hornets will look to bounce back in their next match while on the road. They will face the Washington Wizards on February 22, tip-off at 6 PM ET.

The Philadelphia 76ers were widely expected to make a cost-cutting move before the trade deadline, as that is how their front office has operated over the past few seasons. He has shown an aversion to paying the luxury tax, and for better or worse, he has ensured that he does not stray above the tax apron.

However, the 76ers found the tax savings they were looking for in an unexpected place. They traded their 2024 first-round pick, Jared McCann, who had shown so much promise before tearing his meniscus, to the Oklahoma City Thunder for a 2026 first-round pick (from the Houston Rockets) and three second-round picks.

Now, McCain is turning his attention to the defending champion. On Friday night, he scored 21 points on 7-12 shooting from the field in the Thunder’s 105–86 win over the Brooklyn Nets. He starred for an OKC team that was missing Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams, and McCann’s emergence has given OKC more room to rest those key guys — much to the dismay of 76ers fans.

76ers fans crying over Jared McCann loss after big night for OKC

The 76ers’ decision to trade McCain was a surprising development, as it looked like he was going to be part of the team’s core for the near future, given how well he played in his rookie season.

Now, McCann is playing well for the Thunder, and 76ers fans are heartbroken that the guy they picked is working for a different team in his second year campaign.

Sixers fan RN after trade of Jared McCain https://t.co/50ysWG7DFf pic.twitter.com/QM3mv0TSnt

– Chilinwari (@chilinwari) 21 February 2026

“Jared McCann playing so well shows just how bad Nick Nurse is on this roster,” wrote X user @Youdownwith_LNV.

@TimeoutSPORTS3 said, “The Sixers gave Jared McCain practically nothing. Non-serious organization.”

@Glenjr1988 added, “I was right about Jared McCain. I mean Sam Presti traded for him.”

76ers president Daryl Morey said they were “highly sold” on McCann. Only time will tell whether this is actually the case or not. However, everything is not looking good for Philly at the moment.

After a 2024-25 season in which the Cleveland Cavaliers finished atop the Western Conference and still ended the season with a disappointment, the Cavs are looking to rebuild once again. The arrival of James Harden and an influx of stars headlined by Donovan Mitchell means the Cavs are once again seen as genuine title contenders.

And while Mitchell notched his 100th 30-point game for the Cavs against the Charlotte Hornets, his postgame comments will put an even bigger smile on fans’ faces.

Donovan on his 100th, 30-point game as a Cavalier:

“Hopefully I get 100, 200 more, that’s the goal. … I love being here, I love being a part of this group, I love being a part of this organization and this city. There’s a lot of Cavs fans out there coming to see the crowds we have on the road. Before I… pic.twitter.com/9e4tXeWx81

-RealCavsFans.com (@realcavsfans) 21 February 2026

“Hopefully I get 100, 200 more, that’s the goal. … I love being here, I love being a part of this group, I love being a part of this organization and this city. To see the crowd we have on the road, there are so many Cavs fans. Before I got here, I didn’t know how many people were actually from Ohio. To hear that wherever I go is special,” Mitchell told RealCavsFans.com As explained in a post on

The 29-year-old has established himself as one of the best scorers in the NBA, averaging 28.8 points per game (career-high), 5.9 assists, 4.5 rebounds and 1.5 steals. The win is Cleveland’s seventh consecutive win and 12th in the last 13 games.

The defining story was Mitchell’s acquisition in the fourth quarter. The All-Star guard finished with 32 points, including 13 in the final period.

And while Mitchell sealed the game, Jarrett Allen’s interior dominance was equally important. Allen contributed 25 points and 14 rebounds while Harden chipped in with 18 points and eight assists.

For the Hornets, Kon Knueppel had a 33-point performance with seven three-pointers, bringing his total three-pointers for the season to 193, the second-most by a rookie in the NBA. Despite trailing by 14 points after the first half, Knueppel’s effective shooting allowed the Hornets to get back into the game.

Nevertheless, the Hornets lost due to lack of support, with their second highest scorer Brandon Miller finishing with 18 points. The Cavs’ offensive talent proved too much in the end, helping them earn their seventh consecutive win.

LOS ANGELES – After a late turnover-related mistake that gave the LA Clippers a chance to tie the game, the Los Angeles Lakers emerged with a 125-122 win after Nicolas Batum missed a 3-point attempt. The entire game was a high-scoring affair, but according to Lakers head coach JJ Redick, the biggest play of the game came from Austin Reaves on the defensive end.

When the Clippers trailed by three, 118–115, with less than two minutes left in the game, Benedict Mathurin attacked the basket to cut the Lakers’ lead. But Austin Reaves beat him on the spot, putting a charge on the game and giving the Lakers some momentary relief.

Luka Doncic missed a clutch floater, and Austin Reeves took a charge from Benedict Mathurin at the other end, fouled out (the challenge was not successful).

with replay pic.twitter.com/mVKIwNXMhX

– MrBuckBuck (@MrBuckBuckNBA) 21 February 2026

Reaves tried to draw another charge that was not called, and according to JJ Redick it would have been a game-defining play if it had gone the Lakers’ way.

“I thought the charge was the play of the game,” Reddick said after the win. “Frankly, the other allegation was that if they had made the right call the game would have been played, which they didn’t…it was a huge play given the circumstances.”

The Clippers game was Reaves’ first game in the starting lineup since he returned from a calf injury. He was coming off the bench under a one-minute ban. At Lakers practice on Thursday afternoon, Redick acknowledged that Reaves will no longer be on a minutes restriction.

Reeves had another All-Star caliber effort with 29 points, six rebounds, two assists and two steals in 33 minutes. He shot a perfect 9 of 15 from the field, 4 of 5 from the 3-point line, and 7 of 7 from the free-throw line.

“He was fantastic tonight,” Redick said. “Other than the two turnovers there and the third turnover in traffic, they just played a super efficient night.”

Coming into Friday’s game, Reeves had appeared in 28 games this season, a little over 33 minutes per game. He averaged 25.4 points, 5.0 rebounds, 6.0 assists and 1.0 steals with splits of 50.8 percent shooting from the field, 36.3 percent shooting from the 3-point line and 86.7 percent shooting from the free-throw line.

Reeves was on pace to make his first All-Star appearance, but his unfortunate calf injury hindered his chances.

The Lakers currently have two more games to play at home, starting with a showdown against their historic rival at the Boston Celtics on Sunday. They face the Orlando Magic on Tuesday before heading out on the road to close out the month.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma City Thunder guard Jared McCain scored a season-high 21 points in a 105–86 win against the Brooklyn Nets. In the Thunder’s sixth consecutive game without Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, McCann’s 21 points led Oklahoma City in scoring before his team’s debut.

McCain, this has become a tradition for new players over the years debuted its bark During his first walk-off interview for the Thunder, according to FanDuel TV.

Jared McCain is barking in his Thunder postgame interview ??? pic.twitter.com/tdMDjD7PqZ

– NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) 21 February 2026

The new Thunder Player Postgame Bark began when Jalen Williams and Jaylin Williams introduced it to fans in attendance and during walk-off interviews, and eventually became required for all new Thunder players.

Mark Daigneault praises Thunder for making major adjustments

With the Thunder missing Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams for the next one to two weeks, head coach Mark Daigneault says that although Friday’s win against the Nets was not good, his players found a way. The Thunder defense held the Nets to 10 points in the second quarter. Then, found their offensive rhythm in the second half.

For Daigneault, the absence of Gilgeous-Alexander, Williams and Ajay Mitchell has disrupted the Thunder’s offensive continuity, forcing the defending champions to make quick adjustments.

“We’re obviously missing some on-ball creators. So, the way we’re trying to create an advantage is different right now,” Daigneault said. “But once we get the lead and once we move the ball, those games are no different. I thought we played some pretty good plays. I also thought we had some plays we could learn from. We had a lot of turnovers. It wasn’t a clean offensive game.

“It was tough to establish a rhythm with some of those plays, but guys are being put in good positions. Obviously, we have to start building our muscles collectively, but we also have to continue to develop those habits offensively.”

The Thunder will host the Cavs in a matinee on Sunday.

Kawhi Leonard and the LA Clippers got a big win against one of the NBA’s best teams on Thursday night thanks to the contributions of freshman shooting guard Benedict Mathurin.

The fourth-year guard was traded to the Clippers on the day of the NBA trade deadline in a package that brought Isaiah Jackson and some draft picks to Los Angeles in exchange for All-Defensive center Ivica Zubac.

In his third game with the team since the acquisition – and his first game inside the Intuit Dome as a Clipper – Mathurin led the Clippers’ comeback win.

Benedict Mathurin scored 38 points in his first game at home, leading the Clippers to a 115–114 win over Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets. The guard shot 12 of 22 from the field and 12 of 13 from the free throw line in the win, scored 11 points off the bench in the first quarter and poured in 16 points in the fourth quarter to close out the win.

“He’s doing it,” Kawhi Leonard said of his new teammate. “It’s great to have another scorer that can get 30 points, saw him in the NBA Finals [against the Oklahoma City Thunder]. “He was doing that all year with the Pacers, in the finals last year, so it’s great to have him.”

Kawhi Leonard on Benedict Mathurin’s 38-point night vs. Nuggets:

“He’s doing that. It’s great to have another scorer that can get 30 points, saw him in the finals. He was doing that with the Pacers in the finals last year, so it’s great to have him.” pic.twitter.com/rDreMcknPn

-Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) 20 February 2026

Mathurin had some big performances for the Indiana Pacers last season, including a 27-point performance in Game 3, helping his team take a 2–1 series lead, and a 24-point, 13-rebound performance in Game 7, after Tyrese Haliburton ruptured his Achilles tendon.

“He’s been aggressive since he’s been playing with us, but it was great,” Leonard said. “Like you said, he scored 11 in the first, and he continued it from there. He came out in transition, made some layups, hit some big three-point shots. Guarded very well, so it’s been a great pickup.”

Benedict Mathurin has increased his scoring, rebounding and assists for three consecutive seasons, but now he has a chance to develop a consistency that was not available to him at Indiana under head coach Rick Carlisle.

“It’s going to be amazing [playing under head coach Tyronn Lue],” Mathurin said after last night’s win. “He might end up being my best friend.” He told me to be aggressive, man. He told me how I am, and I feel like he really knows my game. He knows exactly what I can do. So, I’m glad to have him as our coach and I think with everyone together we can do great things.”

Thursday night was also the second consecutive game in which Mathurin reached double-digit free throw attempts, displaying the ability to not only score at a high level, but also pressure the defense and get to the free throw line, where he shot 83.6 percent for his career.

Ochai Agbaji is getting a fresh start with the Brooklyn Nets. Traded by the Toronto Raptors at the deadline, the former lottery pick has an opportunity to regain his form in Brooklyn during the second half of the season.

Agbaji took a step in the right direction during his first extended action in net. The 25-year-old was one of Brooklyn’s only bright spots during Thursday’s 112-84 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers. He posted 13 points, three rebounds, three assists and one block on 5 of 8 shooting from the field and 3 of 6 from three.

Agbaji finished with a team-best minus-four in 28 minutes.

“[Ochai] Very good job,” Jordi Fernandez said after the game. “He was ready to shoot. He still has to get used to the spacing, the rules, certain plays and defensive concepts. But I think he was great. He was ready; he fought. Physically and mentally, he was ready to go. Nice to see this.”

Agbaji had the best season of his career in 2024–25, averaging 10.4 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.5 assists on 50/40/71 shooting splits in 64 appearances. However, he fell out of the Raptors’ rotation this year due to a career-worst shooting slump (12 of 65 from three in 42 games with Toronto).

Ochai Agbaji struggling to secure long-term role after trade with Nets

While the Nets received a second-round pick in exchange for Agbaji’s contract, Fernandez praised the guard’s skills upon his arrival. With a 6-foot-5 wingspan, a 6-foot-10 frame and above-average athleticism, the former Kansas star has the tools to be an impact guard.

that athleticism was on display On Thursday.

Agbaji got Uttar Pradesh for this rejection

➡️ Watch Live on YES & THE @gothamsports App: https://t.co/sWMqNZ0hci pic.twitter.com/sqneGAEdL6

– Yes Network (@YESNetwork) 20 February 2026

His ability to put together a positive shooting night will go a long way in earning an expanded role.

“It felt good. It felt good to see the ball go in and get some rhythm with my guys and score some runs,” Agbaji said after the game. “Obviously, that was one game before the All-Star break, but [it was] Little minutes here and there. Saw this for the first time [extended] A few minutes to really get my form and go with them, and I’m excited. I’m excited about what we can do. The style we play is very unselfish and I’m that type of player. So I fit in.”

Agbaji will be a free agent when his rookie contract expires this summer. He is one of several players — including Ziaire Williams, Jalen Wilson and Josh Minott — fighting to secure a new deal on the back-end of Brooklyn’s roster.

On Thursday, the Chicago Bulls were back in action from the All-Star break and defeated the Toronto Raptors at home. Head coach Billy Donovan was recently absent to care for his family. his father diedBilly Donovan Sr.

Before the game, Bulls issued a tribute To Donovan Sr., according to ClutchPoints.

The Bulls honored the passing of head coach Billy Donovan Sr., father of head coach Billy Donovan, before tonight’s game versus the Raptors.

(via @DravesZachary) pic.twitter.com/ui1abaibg3

– ClutchPoints (@clutchpoints) 20 February 2026

Billy Donovan Sr. was a standout player at Boston College, where he finished as the No. 3 top scorer in program history with 1,102 career points. He was a first lieutenant in the army.

Billy Jr. later began playing basketball and played in college at Providence. In 1987, he was part of the team that reached the Final Four. Ultimately, Billy Jr. became the head coach at Florida and led them to two consecutive NCAA Championships in 2006 and 2007.

After his father passed away, colleagues like Rick Pitino sent my best wishes. Meanwhile, the Bulls are 24-31 and on a six-game losing streak.

Donovan has been the head coach of the Bulls since the 2020–21 season. Till now he has made a record of 195-205. Additionally, Donovan led the Bulls to the 2022 NBA Playoffs, in which they were eliminated in the first round by the Milwaukee Bucks in five games.

Previously, Donovan was the head coach of the Oklahoma City Thunder from 2015 to 2020. He compiled a record of 243–157. His current overall coaching record in the NBA is 438–362. In 2025, Donovan was Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

Meanwhile, Wes Unseld Jr. has taken over as interim head coach.

When the Los Angeles Clippers traded James Harden and Ivica Zubac, they made it clear that they were rebuilding rather than completely rebuilding. Steve Ballmer invested nearly $2 billion in Intuit Dome, so he might not want to hit the reset button. Instead, the organization has added youth to the NBA’s oldest team. Newcomer Benedict Mathurin thrilled the crowd in LA’s first home game since the aforementioned trades, making history in a 115–114 win against the Denver Nuggets.

The former Indiana Pacers wing, who was included in the Zubac deal, scored a game-high 38 points in 34 minutes off the bench, while shooting 54.5 percent from the field and recording five rebounds, four assists and three steals. According to ClutchPoints reporter Tomer Azarli, he set a new scoring record for a Clippers player debuting on his home field and also matched a career high. That was not all.

Appropriately, Mathurin passed Jamal Crawford for most points by a reserve in his LA debut. This squad has a new offensive spark plug, and he is only 23 years old. After making an impressive debut against the Houston Rockets last Wednesday, the young Canadian won over Clippers fans by outclassing several competitors, including Nikola Jokic, Kawhi Leonard and Jamal Murray.

Benedict Mathurin will be a restricted free agent this summer, but it stands to reason Los Angeles will want to lock him up for the foreseeable future. Tyronn Lue’s team is now just one game below .500, and Darius Garland still isn’t in tune. Although it’s not what City had envisioned, there is certainly excitement in the air after this hard-fought victory.

The Phoenix Suns were hoping to get off to a great start to the second half of the season, but those plans hit a major roadblock Thursday night.

Devin Booker, the heartbeat of the Suns’ offense, fouled out early during a high-stakes Western Conference showdown against the San Antonio Spurs. The team later confirmed that the five-time All-Star would not return due to a sore right hip, leaving a large void in the lineup.

The Phoenix Suns guard was trying to find his rhythm after the All-Star break before his night was cut short due to injury. Booker checked out, playing only 9 minutes, finishing with five points and 1 rebound. He struggled to find his stroke from deep, going 0-of-2 from beyond the arc, but he was active at the rim and the charity stripe to keep the Suns competitive early.

After the break, the Suns (32-24) are locked in a tight race to avoid the play-in tournament. Facing a red-hot San Antonio Spurs team that entered the night with a seven-game winning streak, the Suns already suffered a loss due to Dillon Brooks’ one-game suspension.

With Booker sidelined, the onus falls on Jalen Green and Mark Williams. The Spurs took full advantage of Booker’s absence, fueled by impressive performances from Victor Wembanyama, De’Aaron Fox, and Devin Vassell, who all posted 20+ points in the third quarter. The Spurs lead 89-63 heading into the third quarter at the Moody Center.

Attention has now turned to the severity of Booker’s hip issue. He has already dealt with managing a right ankle injury throughout February, and any extended absence of the Suns’ leading scorer, who averages 25.2 points per game, could be devastating to their seeding hopes.

The Sons are back in action soon, and Wally will be holding his breath for an update on his superstar’s status.

The New York Knicks are back from the All-Star break, and their first challenge will be against the top-seeded Detroit Pistons. The last time these two saw each other, the Knicks were not at their best and lost 118-80. This time may be a little different as they will be at home, and they will have more players available in this matchup, including Karl-Anthony Towns.

There is one player on the injury report who has been important for the Knicks this season, and that is OG Anunoby. He is listed on the injury report with a sprained right toe, and it is uncertain whether he will be able to play against the Pistons.

His position in the game is as follows.

*Watch NBA Games Live with fuboTV (Free Trial)*

OG Anunoby’s injury status vs. Pistons

Anunoby is listed as questionable against the Pistons, meaning he is likely to play. He practiced the day before the game and reported that his toenail was in pain due to it being completely removed.

“There’s a lot of pain. It’s an open wound,” The Athletic on X, formerly of Twitter’s James L. Anunoby said, according to Edwards III.

Hopefully the injury won’t hinder Anunoby too much from what he wants to do on the floor and he can manage his minutes if the Knicks decide to play. Anunoby’s biggest strength is his defense, and he usually guards one of the opposing team’s better perimeter players. If he can’t perform to the best of his ability, the Knicks can bring him back slowly.

Luckily for the Knicks, they have Mikal Bridges, who is also a good perimeter defender and can fill that role for Anunoby.

It doesn’t seem like this is an injury that will keep Anunoby out for long, and if he can play, he may get a full chance.

When Mitch Marner left Toronto last summer, he did so with that reputation hanging over his head like a cartoon storm cloud.

The Toronto Maple Leafs are a historic, Original Six franchise. Marner left his mark on his record by wearing his hometown team’s sweater during his 657 games. At the conclusion of his Leafs tenure, Marner was fifth in scoring with 751 points. He was and still is fourth in career assists with 520.

But when fans talk about Marner, they don’t even mention his offensive talent, or his perennial candidacy for the Selke Trophy. Instead, they refer to him as someone who disappears when the lights are brightest.

in an article for athleticJonas Siegel called Marner a ‘two-way powerhouse’ who helped the Maple Leafs win a lot of games in the regular season.

He wrote, “But this was not the player who got them in the postseason, at least not often, and certainly not in the biggest games.”

“In [2025] In the playoffs, the Leafs swept their way around the Ottawa Senators in the first round and took a 2–0 series lead against the Panthers, but squandered it in disastrous fashion. Siegel wrote in a separate article, Marner again failed to produce when the Leafs needed him most.

Mark Stone, his teammate on the Vegas Golden Knights, disagreed with the sentiment that Marner was not a ‘clutch’ player.

“As a teammate, I haven’t experienced this,” he said after Marner led Canada to a 4-3 overtime win on Wednesday. “[At] 4 Nations, he gets a big overtime goal for us [against Sweden]Makes for an incredible game for the winner [in the gold medal game]. Then tonight, when we need him most, he makes a play.

“So… I guess it’s a Toronto thing,” Stone finished.

Marner is in the midst of his first season with the Golden Knights. Thus, he has not yet had the opportunity to fully shed his playoff demons. But Stone brought up three different ‘big moments’ where Marner came through for his team.

The first ‘big moment’ was Canada’s first game in the 4 Nations tournament. Canada led 3–1 after 40 minutes, but lost the third period. But in overtime, Marner answered the call and saved Canada from disaster with a heroic solo-try goal.

The second ‘big moment’ came just eight days later in the gold medal game at the 4 Nations tournament. Canada trailed 2–1 in the third period, but Marner forced a Sam Bennett goal to force overtime. And in overtime, Marner again had a big play, finding Connor McDavid alone for the game-winner.

The final – and arguably the biggest – ‘big moment’ was the quarter-final match between Czechia and Canada. Trailing 3–2, Canada scored late in the third period and forced overtime. And in overtime, as he had done against Sweden a year earlier in the 4 Nations, Marner did it himself and scored a goal to send Canada to the semi-finals.

Calling Marner a player who can’t perform in big moments is simply not accurate.

Maybe Mark Stone is right. maybe this Is A ‘Toronto thing.’

Hannah Kirkel is a beat writer who covers the Vegas Golden Knights for Vegas Hockey Now on SportsNote. She studied more about Hannah Kirkel

Recently, the NBA All-Star Game took place at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, home of the Clippers. The game received better reviews this year than last season, players scored at least a few tries in the new USA vs. World format, the young USA team won the round robin tournament and Anthony Edwards won MVP.

However, the league is apparently still open to suggestions about how to improve the event going forward, and recently, NBA legend Dwyane Wade offered an interesting idea for the future of the game.

“I don’t think we should stop and do this [NBA] No more mid-season All-Star Game. …I look at it like the Pro Bowl. … The All-Star Game should be a journey … an experience for the guys who make it,” Wade said, according to the Y Network by Dwyane Wade, ex, formerly on Twitter.

Indeed, the NFL Pro Bowl game takes place after the regular season and the first three rounds of the playoffs have already been completed, which could theoretically attract more attention.

However, that game has also been the subject of extreme criticism, the league has recently changed the format to flag football, and a large number of star players are opting out of the event each year, so it may not be the best reference point to use for improving the NBA’s version of the game.

This year, San Antonio Spurs young star Victor Wembanyama set the tone early in the All-Star Game with his effort level, and most of the other players seemed to follow suit, resulting in three straight game losses before the finals quickly turned into a blowout.

Overall, while it wasn’t perfect, it was definitely a step in the right direction for the NBA All-Star celebration.

One of the best parts of European football is the excitement that Premier League teams generate when they arrive in small, obscure venues. Crystal Palace’s visit to Bosnia is generating so much excitement this week.

They will face Bosnian team HSK Zrinjski Mostar in the Europa Conference League play-offs this week. AThe second Wesernzi list shows how the Eagles are causing a stir.

The newspaper reports that the atmosphere is heating up ahead of the big European match with Crystal Palace on Thursday.

The game against the Premier League team has ‘generated immense interest’ across the region. Even those with little interest in football are getting involved.

Crystal Palace created ‘excitement’

A number of side events have been organized before the match. It involves a pub quiz with ‘a large number of registered teams’.

Mostar are also ‘getting the fans excited’ in various ways. They are helping to create a sense of ‘excitement’ that they believe sports benefit from such an environment. All the tickets have been sold out and even the rain won’t spoil the mood.

Actually, Mostar wants to create a better atmosphere in the stands. They have already invited fans to the stands.

When they arrive, fans will enjoy half-price beer, a quiz in the stands with prizes and many other events.

‘Broader social opportunities’

There is also a determination to show off Mostar in general. The city sees the game as a ‘broad social opportunity’ to present Mostar in a ‘good light’.

Crystal Palace fans are also lining up, saying the stadium reminds them of ‘romantic football times’.

They are as interested in the Bosnians as their hosts are in them. Even his expectations of a relaxing evening have helped ‘further add to the allure of the match’.

It’s all creating a great, enjoyable atmosphere ahead of tomorrow’s game. The hope is that this can be a showcase of all the good things that competitions like the Conference League can bring.

Oklahoma City Thunder forward Chet Holmgren reflected on his first All-Star Game during postgame media availability. Holmgren discussed the competitiveness of the NBA’s new USA vs. World format. Chet played for the USA Stars team, which defeated the USA Stripes 47–21 in the final.

Holmgren talked about his first All-Star Game during media availability after the game.

Holmgren said, “I thought it was good. I thought everybody out there was playing a good brand of basketball.” “It felt like, I guess you would say, a pick-up game, and when there’s that level of talent on the field, it’s always fun, it’s always good.”

He also talked about the ring he received for his All-Star selection, which was unexpected for Holmgren.

Holmgren said, “It was pretty cool. I didn’t know you could get an All-Star ring until I got it.” “So, it was pretty cool. It comes with a little box with a little video in it. It’s too bad, but I think I like our ring from last year a little more.”

The Thunder forward took a moment to appreciate the special career milestone of his first All-Star Game.

“I definitely tried to take a moment during pictures yesterday and then warming up and playing the game today and think what a great opportunity this is,” Holmgren said. “I felt like I was beautiful most of the time. Just taking it all in.”

Chet Holmgren on his All-Star leap with the Thunder

While fourth-year forward Jalen Williams made his All-Star case for the Thunder’s Chet Holmgren, most would agree that it was a no-brainer. Ahead of his first All-Star appearance on Sunday, Holmgren discussed the work he’s done leading to arguably the best season of his career.

“I would call that all work that’s not in the game,” Holmgren said. “It’s the preparation before games, the morning shoots, the work over the summer; all the stuff that no one sees – the rehab from injuries. If you didn’t do it, no one would know about it. But at the end of the day, once you get on the court, it’s right there in the air.”

Holmgren is averaging career bests in points per game (17.4), field-goal percentage (56%), and rebounds (8.7).

The 2026 NBA All-Star Game was an overall success for Adam Silver, the players, and their fans. The NBA also invited more than 200 content creators, which it described as “the broadest creator footprint ever,” welcoming a whole new set of problems into their world.

There was precedent for the participation of global creators. This year’s annual Super Bowl-week content recently aired. comedians like jimmy kimmel liveGuillermo Rodriguez has been connecting superstars to national audiences at NBA Finals media availability for years. However, with respect to media coverage in today’s digital age, the NBA needs to stop reacting to streamers and return to its roots as one of society’s most influential cultural forces.

The answer is to consider journalism and content creation as separate. Players will fear additional content-creation media availability in the same way they feared the introduction of in-game interviews on television. Historically, leagues have found ways to force players to make sacrifices to help grow audiences.

As print culture dies out in favor of video or online platforms with character limits, discussions about anything from sports to politics have become increasingly irrational. The convenience of instant messages is undeniable. But it cannot be separated from the context which is often lost in online posts. This is especially relevant to platforms like X, which limit characters and encourage contention.

The equation of journalistic work with content creation, whether entertaining or not, is dangerous for fans. The NBA led the way globally in responding to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Although sports reporting is not as urgent as a public health issue, the league can again lead the way globally by setting an important standard. The NBA is grateful for the example it sets for its fans to work and lead in this unprecedented era of content and information.

The NBA has pitted creators against reporters, causing real harm to fans.

According to the league, creators were “deeply integrated” into All-Star Weekend, playing “active roles in All-Star events through on-court participation, broadcast roles and behind-the-scenes access.” They are real factors in terms of revenue generation for the development of sports and empowering teams and boosting the sports economy. But they don’t have the responsibility to their audiences that journalists do.

TikTokers are beholden to standards of accuracy or fairness, but not in the way an NBA beat reporter is. Content creators entertain audiences, which is a fundamental principle of the game itself. But they don’t investigate and share information with audiences the way journalists should.

Detroit Pistons reporter Omari Sankofa II was unable to ask questions of all three All-Star representatives from the Motor City. This was simply due to an easily preventable scheduling snafu in which the availability of Jalen Duren, Cade Cunningham and JB Bickerstaff were planned simultaneously. When so many players and coaches have to field questions from so many media members, the overlap is understandable. But it’s important to recognize that fans suffer the most from that setup.

The league scheduled JB, Duren and Cade all during the same 10-minute availability window. Cade was in the interview room down the hall, not able to meet him in time. Guess they didn’t think any local Piston Beat writer would want to talk to those three

– Omari Sankofa II (@omarisankofa) 14 February 2026

Reporters, especially local ones, have long been the best way for fans to follow their team during the season. Influencers and content creators are warmly welcome to join the conversation, providing both current and potential fans with an entertaining perspective on their favorite—or new favorite—athletes. But this cannot continue at the cost of silencing journalists.

Creators should be welcomed in the NBA world, but not at the expense of journalism

In some rare cases, those journalists are literally being muted. When the NBA announced its impressive plans, New York Knicks reporter James L. Edwards III shared an anecdote related to the NBA Cup. The reporter missed the opportunity to ask a legitimate final question because a content creator made a jersey for a Knicks player and asked him to sign it.

During the NBA Cup, we (the media) were trying to interview a player for our job and a content creator intervened, pulled a Knicks player’s jersey out of his pocket and asked him to sign it. He got the last question. https://t.co/16ZqmYvwne

– James L. Edwards III (@JLEdwardsIII) 10 February 2026

While it may be tempting to call these journalists crazy and move on, the fact is that their job is to serve fans by investigating and sharing the truth. The league’s growing involvement with sportsbooks and prediction markets underscores the need for that kind of journalism.

While the cultural half-life of information is getting shorter, some data points are still much more important than others. But the NBA doesn’t have to choose between them. They should show creators how important they are by providing their media availability. Some hilarious content created over All-Star Weekend revealed that NBA stars are prone to doing all kinds of weird things. But making TikToks during a job interview doesn’t have to be one of them.

Former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama, at the NBA All-Star Game in Los Angeles Among the high-profile attendees were. Actually, a loose ball landed in the lap of the 44th President. Plus, he had a little fun with Reggie Miller while reliving 1990s NBA memories.

Now that all the celebrations are over, President Obama put out The NBA opened an invitation on Instagram to attend the inauguration of its Presidential Center in June.

“That’s about the limit of my game these days,” Obama posted. “But everyone is welcome to play Home Court when we open the Obama Presidential Center this June.”

The Obama Presidential Center is about to open on Chicago’s south side. Among the facilities provided by the center will be a full-length NBA regulation-style basketball court. Obama is known to be an avid basketball fan. In 1979, he helped lead Punahou School in Honolulu, Hawaii to the state championship.

As president, he hosted pick-up games at the White House with the participation of NBA players including LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Carmelo Anthony, Kobe Bryant, Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah. Additionally, ESPN hosted “Bracketology” at the White House, where the President filled out his brackets during the NCAA Tournament.

Obama recently revealed his all-time starting lineup. This included his friends Steph Curry, Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Kevin Durant and Hakeem Olajuwon.

In 2021, Obama became a strategic partner for NBA Africa. He is also a big fan of the Chicago Bulls and appeared as a “Chicago resident” in The Last Dance in 2020.

On Sunday evening, the NBA All-Star weekend concluded with the big game, which was actually four smaller games as part of a round robin tournament between three teams. The United States youth team swept the field, with Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards taking All-Star Game MVP honors.

The NBA has been tinkering with the All-Star Game format for the past few years in hopes of appeasing fans’ ongoing complaints, and if Sunday’s ratings are any indication, the league may have found its new solution moving forward.

x, former ClutchPoints NBA insider Brett Siegel on Twitter reported, “Regardless of what the audience looked like in the arena at times, the 2026 NBA All-Star Game delivered the largest TV audience since 2011, averaging 8.8 million viewers across NBC, Peacock and Telemundo.”

“The 2026 All-Star Game topped last year’s viewership with 87% (4.7 million views),” he said.

This weekend, there was a lot of discussion about the perceived lack of effort from players in the past few All-Star games, with fans wondering if the new USA vs. World format would be enough to motivate the stars to try a little harder.

San Antonio Spurs phenom Victor Wembanyama set the tone early with his competitive play and other stars seemed to follow suit, losing three out of four games at the event.

It remains to be seen if the NBA will pursue this exact format, as at one point, the old USA roster played three straight games, at the end of which they appeared a bit tired.

However, for a league that is in its final stages, NBA officials have to be happy with the game’s ratings results.

The NBA regular season is scheduled to resume on Thursday.

To say that Kawhi Leonard had a great performance during All-Star weekend would be an understatement. The Los Angeles Clippers key player finished with 31 points and the game-winning three-pointer, and seemed extremely satisfied with the new format after the proceedings.

According to a post on X by ClutchPoints, when asked if he liked the new format, he said, “Whatever you guys want. Whatever you know grabs consumer attention, I’m all for it.”

“Whatever you guys want. Man, same question. Whatever grabs the consumer’s attention, I’m all for it.”

Kawhi Leonard explained how entertaining the new All-Star Game format was 😅

(via @joeylinn_)pic.twitter.com/kwKecGThs6

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 16 February 2026

Not many people can question his performance. When fit and active, Leonard remains one of the best players in the league and arguably the best two-way player in the NBA.

And the same has been seen with the Clippers’ season so far. After a rough start for the Clippers, Leonard’s return to form has fueled a dramatic turnaround that has kept the team in the playoff conversation.

“When I play basketball I feel like I’m one of the best players,” he said, though he questioned the basis of the rankings.

“It’s for you guys. For me, I think it’s a rotation every day, every week. Because you guys are coming in scoring 50, playing great defensive games. And then the next night, someone else is going to shine. So, for me, the rankings are just based on maintaining the hype around the game,” Leonard said, clearly determined to continue his great form.

The 34-year-old is currently averaging 27.9 points, 2.1 steals (both career-highs), 6.4 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game, and will be well aware that the Clippers count on him not only for contention, but also for postseason qualification. The Clippers currently sit in 10th place in the Western Conference with a 26-28 record and need to build on their recent performance to overtake teams.

Every year, the NBA’s All-Star Game is heavily criticized by fans. Over the past few decades, the All-Star Game has transformed from a semi-competitive game between two conferences to a glorified shootaround between two teams. There have been some good All-Star Games, but they have been few and far between. Houston Rockets star Kevin Durant blamed Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic and Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic for their lackadaisical approach to the All-Star Game.

“You have to ask the European and world teams if they’re going to compete,” Durant said earlier. “If you look at Luka Doncic and Nikola Jokic right now, let’s go back and see what they do in the All-Star Game. Is that competition? So we haven’t questioned what they’re doing. But we’re going to question the old heads and the Americans.”

This quote has generated considerable discussion: it is rare for a player to publicly call out his teammates, and Durant conceded defeat against two of the league’s best players. Now, Doncic has responded to Durant’s comments. In a recent interview with Slovenian sports website Sportsklub, the Lakers star revealed that the All-Star Game was treated loosely before he and Jokic arrived in the league.

“It was the same way when I first came to the All-Star Game, so I don’t know why they picked us,” Doncic said. “But I think it would be better because it’s the world against the United States.”

In fact, the Lakers star was right: The World vs. USA format lit a fire inside the players. Many fans praised the efforts of Anthony Edwards and Victor Wembanyama during the game. Team USA ultimately won thanks to Edwards, but most spectators were happy to have an entertaining and competitive game for once.

Doncic earned his sixth All-Star selection this season and his fifth as a starter. The Lakers star is averaging 32.8 points, 7.8 rebounds and 8.6 assists per game this season. LA is in fifth place in the West with a 33-21 record before the All-Star Game.

By Deni Avdija As he makes history as the first Israeli player to play in the 2026 NBA All-Star Game, Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James discusses him and his aspirations to move to Israel.

Speaking to reporters, James praised Avdija. He stands by his opinion that Avdija deserves to be named an NBA All-Star for his play.

“I’ve been quoted before about Denny and asked what I think about his season. I said I believe he’s an All-Star. He’s playing exceptional basketball,” James said.

After this he talked about the possibility of visiting Israel. James hasn’t been, but he knows he has fans there. So, he is ready for the tour.

LeBron James on Israel:

“I hope to inspire people out there to not only be great in sports, but to be better in life in general, hopefully someday I can get there.” pic.twitter.com/Z5rPTzFval

– SM Highlights (@SMHighlights1) 15 February 2026

James said, “I’ve never been there, but if I have fans there, I hope you’re following my career.” “I hope to inspire people out there to not only be great in sports but to be better in life in general. Hopefully, someday I can get there. I’ve heard nothing but great things.”

For the 22nd time in his career, James was named to an NBA All-Star team. He has made it every year from 2005 to 2026, and has been named All-Star Game MVP three times.

James was part of the USA Stripes team, which paired him with players like Jalen Brunson, Jaylen Brown, and Kevin Durant. He played six minutes in the championship game, scoring five points and recording four rebounds. However, he led the game with two turnovers.

Currently, James is in the middle of his eighth season with the Lakers. The Lakers are 33-21, putting them in first place in the Pacific Division. They have the fifth-best record in the Western Conference. James is currently averaging 22 points, 5.8 rebounds and 7.1 assists per game.

On Sunday night, the NBA All-Star Weekend festivities concluded with the game itself, which actually consisted of four 12-minute games as part of a round robin tournament. The young American team won the tournament, defeating a team filled with US veterans as well as international players, with Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards winning the All-Star Game MVP award.

The NBA has changed the All-Star Game format several times over the past few years in an effort to drum up any kind of competitive spirit among the players, and the product appeared to be an improvement on Sunday compared to what we’ve seen before.

However, that didn’t stop St. John’s head coach and basketball icon Rick Pitino from proposing another idea to move the event forward.

“It’s great to see the new format with the All-Star Game. I suggested the NBA do the Ryder Cup with basketball. Starting in Greece and then going back to the states. It would be incredible and even more popular than the Ryder Cup,” he wrote on Twitter.

The NBA implementing its own version of golf’s Ryder Cup would certainly be worth seeing, and would continue the theme of US vs. international players that started this year.

For now, it seems like the league is happy with what we saw from the players on Sunday night, as the game lived up to the billing and produced some entertainment for the fans in attendance at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles.

Now, the league will move forward into an expanded season, although Adam Silver and company still have a ton of questions to answer, including the rise of artificial intelligence, gambling, and a number of other factors that could have a major impact on the game as we know it.

After the 2026 NBA All-Star Game, it was Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards who walked away with the MVP trophy. Edwards helped lead Team Stars to a 47–21 win against Team Stripes in the final game of the new round-robin tournament format. The Timberwolves star finished with eight points, four rebounds and two assists in the final game.

After the All-Star Game, ESPN reporter Brian Windhorst talked about why Anthony Edwards should get more praise as one of the rising faces of the NBA.

“This guy does everything you want from a superstar,” Windhorst said. “He plays on both ends of the court, he has great dunks, he’s a great 3-point shooter, he has a great personality, he’s been a winner. He hasn’t won any championships, but he’s led the Wolves to their best two years in franchise history, and he has incredible competitive juice that he’s shown in this game.”

“I think Ant Edwards is a guy who is going to be a focal point for Team USA going forward,” Windhorst continued. “A centerpiece of All-Star games moving forward, and it’s not something he’s always wanted… but he’s so magnetic. This is a guy the NBA needs to invest heavily in moving forward. They don’t have a choice, they have to.”

The two seasons Windhorst was referring to were the last two seasons when the Wolves reached consecutive Western Conference Finals. Previously, the franchise had made only one conference final appearance in its entire history, in 2004, when Kevin Garnett was at his peak.

This season, Edwards has played just over 35 minutes per game in 46 games. His career averages have been 29.3 points and 5.2 rebounds. Averaged 3.7 assists and 1.3 steals, shooting 49.3 percent from the field, 40.2 percent shooting from the 3-point line and 79.5 percent shooting from the free-throw line.