With less than 2 months remaining in the regular season, here are the pros and cons of a half-dozen contenders.

The 2026 Detroit Pistons are the best in team history, per some analytics. According to Basketball Reference, the 2026 Pistons' 6.90 SRS, a team rating that takes into account average point differential and strength of schedule, is the best in franchise history.

One game separates the third-place Knicks and fourth-place Cavaliers, and the outcome of Tuesday’s games could be crucial for keeping the orange and blue in contention for a top-two spot in the conference. Oddsmakers at DraftKings have installed the Cavs as 4.5-point favorites, with the market split down the middle on each side of the spread.

My NBA picks and predictions in the player prop markets for Monday, February 23, include plays on Duncan Robinson, Ty Jerome, and Reed Sheppard.