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Jared McCain scored 20 points, Isaiah Joe added 19 and the Oklahoma City Thunder — playing without star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander — beat the Chicago Bulls 116-108 on Tuesday night. The defending NBA champion Thunder held out Gilgeous-Alexander to manage an abdominal strain that sidelined him for most of last month. McCain made four 3-pointers. Aaron Wiggins scored 18 points. Jaylin Williams had 17 points and 16 rebounds.
Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was held out of Tuesday’s game against the Chicago Bulls to manage an abdominal strain, an issue that previously sidelined him for most of last month. The reigning MVP had recently returned, playing two games after missing nine consecutively. Gilgeous-Alexander, who is second in the NBA in scoring with 31.8 points per game, is currently on a streak of 123 consecutive games with at least 20 points scored, the second-longest in NBA history.
Jared McCain (76ers) was traded at the NBA deadline, as the Sixers opted to subtract from their roster without receiving an NBA player in return. Despite his departure, he notably scored more points on Sunday than Quentin Grimes and Cameron Payne combined, highlighting the team's ongoing offensive struggles without key players. McCain scored 20 points and made four 3-pointers in the Thunder's 116-108 win over the Bulls.
San Antonio Spurs guard Dylan Harper has been named Western Conference Rookie of the Month for February, marking his first such award. During the Spurs' undefeated 11-0 month, Harper appeared in 10 games, averaging 12.5 points, 4.9 assists, and 3.9 rebounds in 25.1 minutes, shooting 55.4% from the field. He scored 22 points in the Spurs' 131-91 rout of the 76ers. The second overall pick from the 2025 NBA Draft has excelled as the Spurs' backup point guard.
San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama was named Western Conference Player of the Month and Defensive Player of the Month for February, his first Player of the Month honor and second consecutive DPOY. He averaged 22.5 points, 11.3 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.4 steals, and 3.5 blocks during the Spurs' 11-0 February. He scored 10 points in the Spurs' 131-91 rout of the 76ers. Separately, Wembanyama is seeking public help to locate his friend, Elijah Hoard, who went missing in Chicago on Feb 27.
Cleveland Cavaliers' Jaylon Tyson delivered a standout performance in a 113-109 victory over the Detroit Pistons. He led the Cavs with 22 points, shooting 5-for-12 from beyond the arc on catch-and-shoot opportunities. Tyson also played superb defense, effectively guarding Cade Cunningham, and contributed 3 rebounds, fighting for loose balls. Coach Kenny Atkinson praised Tyson for perfectly executing his role of defending, rebounding, and making open shots in the big win.
SportsLine's daily Fantasy expert Mike McClure, who has won over $2 million, has released his optimal NBA DFS lineup recommendations for Tuesday, March 3. Jaylin Williams is highlighted among the top picks for DraftKings and FanDuel. Williams supplied 17 points, 16 rebounds, six assists and one steal across 33 minutes in Tuesday's 116-108 win over the Bulls, recording his fourth double-double of the campaign.
Bam Adebayo had 23 points, nine rebounds and six steals, and the Miami Heat beat the Brooklyn Nets 124-98 on Tuesday night in the opener of a two-game series. Tyler Herro added 22 points and Jaime Jaquez Jr. had 20 for the Heat, who won for the fifth time in seven games. Adebayo and Herro each had 15 points at halftime, while Jaquez and Andrew Wiggins both had 13 as Miami built a 69-54 lead.
Bam Adebayo had 23 points, nine rebounds and six steals, and the Miami Heat beat the Brooklyn Nets 124-98 on Tuesday night in the opener of a two-game series. Tyler Herro added 22 points and Jaime Jaquez Jr. had 20 for the Heat, who won for the fifth time in seven games. Adebayo and Herro each had 15 points at halftime, while Jaquez and Andrew Wiggins both had 13 as Miami built a 69-54 lead.
Tyler Herro is back in the Miami Heat's lineup, significantly boosting the team's offensive capabilities. He is currently averaging 21.0 points per game and has recorded at least six assists in three of his last four outings. For Tuesday's game against the Brooklyn Nets, Herro is projected to exceed 20.5 points and 3.5 assists, playing a key role in the Heat's expected victory. Herro added 22 points in the Heat's 124-98 win.
Miami Heat forward Andrew Wiggins has been cleared and is available for Tuesday's game against the Nets, despite being a late addition to the injury report with bilateral knee tendinitis. He is expected to play through the discomfort. Over his last five appearances, Wiggins has averaged 17.4 points, 6.0 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.6 blocks, and 2.8 three-pointers in 30.2 minutes. He had 13 points in the first half of the Heat's 124-98 win over Brooklyn.
Jalen Brunson had 26 points and 10 assists, Karl-Anthony Towns added 21 points and 12 rebounds, and the New York Knicks beat the Toronto Raptors 111-95 on Wednesday night for their fifth win in six games. After snapping San Antonio’s 11-game winning streak on Sunday, the Knicks ran their win streak against Toronto to 12. The Raptors last beat New York on Jan. 22, 2023. New York became the third Eastern Conference team to reach 40 wins.
NBA computer picks for the Knicks vs. Raptors game on March 3 project Karl-Anthony Towns to exceed his 17.5-point prop bet, with a projection of 19.3 points. The Knicks' strong offensive rebounding is cited as a factor. Towns added 21 points and 12 rebounds in the Knicks' 111-95 win over Toronto. Other projections include RJ Barrett and Brandon Ingram hitting over 1.5 threes, Josh Hart going under 5.5 assists, and Immanuel Quickley exceeding 5.5 assists.
Banchero logged 37 points (15-21 FG, 1-2 3Pt, 6-7 FT), five rebounds and six assists across 32 minutes during Tuesday's 126-109 win over Washington. Banchero paced the Magic in scoring and combined with Desmond Bane to total 62 points. Banchero was asked to shoulder much of the offensive load Tuesday without the assistance of Anthony Black (quadriceps) and Wendell Carter (ankle). The Duke product has now reached the 30-point threshold in two of his last four appearances.
Jaylon Tyson scored 22 points, James Harden added 18 and the Cleveland Cavaliers avenged a recent loss in Detroit by beating the East-leading Pistons 113-109 on Tuesday night despite playing without injured star Donovan Mitchell. Evan Mobley also had 18 points and Dennis Schroder 15 for the Cavs, who split their four regular-season games with Detroit.
James Harden has played in eight games for the Cleveland Cavaliers since his trade, contributing to a 7-1 record. The Cavs are currently fourth in the Eastern Conference, 1.5 games behind the New York Knicks, following a strong February. Fans are surveyed on how to grade Harden's initial month with the team. Harden added 18 points in the Cavs' 113-109 win over the Pistons.
Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball briefly exited Tuesday's game against the Mavericks in the second quarter, heading to the locker room with the training staff due to an undisclosed injury. However, he quickly returned to the bench and was cleared to check back into the game, indicating the issue was minor. Ball contributed 15 points, nine assists, five rebounds, five steals, and one block across 29 minutes, tying his career high in swipes during the 117-90 win.
VJ Edgecombe was ruled out for the rest of the game with lower back soreness after the 76ers' star rookie suffered a hard fall in the first half against San Antonio. Edgecombe was fouled by Carter Bryant on a 3-point attempt on Tuesday night and grimaced as he was helped up by his teammates. Bryant scored 60 points for the Spurs in the first half. The Spurs routed the 76ers 131-91.
VJ Edgecombe was ruled out for the rest of the game with lower back soreness after the 76ers' star rookie suffered a hard fall in the first half against San Antonio. Edgecombe was fouled by Carter Bryant on a 3-point attempt on Tuesday night and grimaced as he was helped up by his teammates. Edgecombe stayed in the game and went 2 of 3 from the free throw line. He finished with six points in 20 minutes. Edgecombe will be re-evaluated within the next day or so.
Predictions for the Wizards vs. Magic game highlight Desmond Bane to exceed 21.5 points, averaging 20.3 PPG for Orlando. He's hit the over in four of his last five games, scoring 30+ twice recently. Bane scored 25 points in the Magic's 126-109 win over Washington. Paolo Banchero is projected for over 9.5 rebounds, and Jalen Suggs for over 5.5 assists. The Magic are favored by 15.5 points.
