PICKS & PARLAYS

Houston (36-21), sitting comfortably in the upper half of the Western Conference, travels to Orlando to take on the Magic (31-26) at Kia Center on Thursday, February 26, with tip-off at 7:30 PM ET. The Rockets are arriving on the second night of a back-to-back, coming off a dominant 128-97 blowout of Sacramento the night before, but doing it shorthanded with Amen Thompson (quad) and Dorian Finney-Smith both questionable and Jae'Sean Tate already ruled out. A Magic team that is rested, playing at home, and has Desmond Bane averaging 30.7 points over his last three games waiting for them at the Kia Center. Two franchises fighting for positioning with the playoff picture tightening, and Houston has to earn it running on fumes.

The San Antonio Spurs, second in the Western Conference at 42-16, travel to face the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center on Thursday, February 26, tipping off at 7:30 PM ET. With the Spurs grinding into Brooklyn on the second night of a back-to-back after a hard-fought 110-107 comeback win in Toronto, and with Stephon Castle (hip) and Keldon Johnson (shoulder) both listed as questionable, this matchup pits the NBA's hottest team on a depleted roster against a Nets squad playing at home with a clean injury report and nothing to lose, as both franchises sit at opposite ends of the standings with San Antonio chasing the West's top seed and Brooklyn firmly in lottery territory, and the Spurs' 10-game winning streak, the longest in the league, on the line in what could be the most deceptive spread of the night.

The Miami Heat, sitting 8th in the Eastern Conference at 31-28, travel to face the 6th-placed Philadelphia 76ers at Xfinity Mobile Arena on Thursday, February 26, tipping off at 7:00 PM ET. With the Heat stumbling into Philly on the heels of a 128-117 road loss to Milwaukee and without Nikola Jovic (back) and Terry Rozier (not with team), this matchup pits a dangerous but dinged-up Miami squad against a 76ers team playing at home with two straight wins, Tyrese Maxey averaging 31.6 points over his last five games, and Joel Embiid (knee/shin) listed as probable after dropping 27 points in his return Tuesday, as both franchises battle for playoff seeding with the Eastern Conference postseason picture tightening by the night.

Charlotte Hornets, surging into playoff contention at 28-31 and winners of eight straight on the road, travel to face the 15-44 Indiana Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Thursday, February 26, tipping off at 7:00 PM ET, with the Hornets riding a 12-3 run since January 22 and a full, healthy roster headlined by LaMelo Ball (19.4 PPG), Brandon Miller (20.6 PPG), and Kon Knueppel (19.3 PPG) rolling into Indianapolis against a Pacers team playing without Pascal Siakam (doubtful, wrist), Aaron Nesmith, and Ivica Zubac while sinking deeper into lottery territory on a four-game skid that includes a 21-point beatdown at the hands of Philadelphia, as Charlotte looks to lock up a ninth consecutive road win and tighten its grip on Eastern Conference playoff positioning with the postseason race entering its critical final stretch.

We're looking for big games from both Kon Knueppel and Derik Queen on Thursday, February 26 to cash our NBA best bet and get things rolling as we head into the weekend. McBets breaks down how you should be betting on these two young stars and exactly why he thinks this is a no-brainer.