NBA NewsMonday, Feb 23, 2026

The Orlando Magic (29-26) listed Jalen Suggs as questionable with back spasms ahead of Sunday night’s matchup against the Los Angeles Clippers (27-29). The game tips off at 9:00 p.m. ET on NBA TV and marks the second night of a back-to-back for Orlando. Suggs was ruled out prior to Saturday’s 113-110 double-overtime loss to […] The post Is Jalen Suggs playing tonight? Magic vs. Clippers injury report appeared first on ClutchPoints .

As Quin Snyder’s upstart Atlanta Hawks navigate the post-Trae Young era and jockey for position in the NBA’s Eastern Conference Play-In tournament, Nickeil Alexander-Walker has emerged as an unexpected offensive catalyst. The former Virginia Tech standout has also rewritten his career narrative. No longer just a rotational piece, Alexander-Walker is posting eye-popping numbers that would […] The post Hawks encouraging ‘aggressive’ Nickeil Alexander-Walker mindset amid breakout season appeared...

The New Orleans Pelicans have been on the struggle bus all year, leading many to speculate that the team would make significant moves at the recent NBA trade deadline. Instead, the Pelicans mostly kept their team intact, including wing Trey Murphy III, who had numerous reported interested teams around the league. Murphy has missed the […] The post Pelicans’ Trey Murphy injury has James Borrego answering if it’s ‘a long one’ appeared first on ClutchPoints .

Victor Wembanyama was the first casualty of the injury bug impacting his chances of winning the NBA MVP award. Then Nikola Jokic missed 16 games, putting him on the verge of crossing the 65-game minimum threshold. Now it is Shai Gilgeous-Alexander battling an injury that could end his hopes of winning his second straight MVP. […] The post ClutchPoints’ NBA MVP Mondays: How Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s injury impacts race appeared first on ClutchPoints .

When Zion Williamson’s overly optimistic New Orleans Pelicans opened the season, Karlo Matkovic was not penciled in as a key rotational piece. However, through sheer effort, physicality, and an infectious team-first mentality, the young big man has forced James Borrego into a welcome dilemma. Matkovic’s steady rise from a fringe option to a trusted contributor […] The post How Pelicans’ hidden gem is making things ‘tough’ on James Borrego appeared first on ClutchPoints .

While much has been made about the Los Angeles Lakers’ defensive issues this season, it was their offense that failed them during their 111-89 loss to the Boston Celtics on Sunday. That was the second-lowest point total the Lakers have had this season, and following practice on Monday, Rui Hachimura spoke about where the team […] The post Rui Hachimura on flailing offense vs. Celtics, where to improve appeared first on ClutchPoints .

With the NBA Playoffs long out of reach and NBA Draft lottery odds the only scoreboard that matters, Will Hardy has shifted his message to a young Utah Jazz roster. Forget rigid scripts. Think for yourselves. The Jazz want their players to become decision-makers, independent thinkers capable of directing their own careers. Speaking after the […] The post Jazz’s Will Hardy reveals biggest piece of advice to young core amid tanked season appeared first on ClutchPoints .

The grind of an NBA rookie season can wear down even the most prepared first-year players. For New Orleans Pelicans rookie Derik Queen, however, the physical demands have been matched by a growing appreciation for the All-Rookie opportunity in front of him, even when it leads to a sudden jolt in the middle of the […] The post Why Pelicans’ Derik Queen woke up ‘excited’ for All-Rookie opportunitiy amid grueling season appeared first on ClutchPoints .

Victor Wembanyama might already be planning his next All-Star Weekend moment. After throwing down a two-handed windmill dunk in a recent Spurs win, Wembanyama said he expects to enter the Slam Dunk Contest at some point, per reports. “I’ll be in the dunk contest one day,” he said afterward. If and when that happens, the […] The post NBA Notes: Wembanyama eyes dunk contest, Jordan flashes back, Middleton steadies Mavs appeared first on Hoops Wire .

The Mavericks officially shut down Kyrie Irving for the remainder of the season, and it’s hard to argue with the decision. According to Mike Curtis of The Dallas Morning News, Dallas opted for caution with Irving’s surgically repaired left knee, prioritizing long-term health over a late-season return that wouldn’t have meaningfully changed the big picture. […] The post Why Mavericks made the right call in shutting down Kyrie Irving appeared first on Hoops Wire .

The Indiana Pacers are losing one of their top front office architects. Indiana University announced Monday, February 23, that Ryan Carr has been hired as Executive Director of Basketball under head coach Darian DeVries, ending a 23-year run with the NBA franchise. Carr most recently served as Senior Vice President of Player Personnel from 2024-26, […] The post Pacers lose senior VP Ryan Carr to Indiana University appeared first on TalkBasket.net .

Kansas freshman Darryn Peterson has gone from the surefire first pick in this June’s NBA Draft to a buyer-beware prospect. Though it would still be a shock to see Peterson fall out of the top three, his work ethic, toughness, and love of the game are routinely being questioned throughout NBA circles. Peterson has sat […] The post Darryn Peterson’s NBA Draft stock takes another hit appeared first on Hoops Wire .