As the NBA All-Star break approaches this weekend, the Detroit Pistons are the best team in the Eastern Conference, leading the second-place Boston Celtics. The conference is currently defined by Detroit’s unexpected dominance in NBA betting. And a tightly contested race for the remaining home-court playoff spots.
Led by All-Star starter Cade Cunningham, Detroit has transitioned from a bottom-tier team to the conference leader, boasting the East’s best point differential. However, Boston is the hottest team in the conference. They recently improved their frontcourt by acquiring veteran Nikola Vucevic, who debuted with a double-double on February 6.
Despite a recent blowout loss to Detroit, the Knicks remain elite contenders. Jalen Brunson leads them, and New York has integrated Karl-Anthony Towns into their core. In turn, the Cleveland Cavaliers made a major splash at the trade deadline by acquiring 11-time All-Star James Harden to bolster their backcourt alongside Donovan Mitchell.
Meanwhile, in the Western Conference, the Oklahoma City Thunder continue to dominate, but the San Antonio Spurs won’t go away. Of great concern is that OKC is currently playing without reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who is sidelined with an abdominal strain. Stephon Castle recently recorded the first 40-point triple-double by a Spurs player since David Robinson, leading San Antonio to their fourth straight win.
Namely, Nikola Jokic continues his MVP-caliber season. Consider that he is leading the league in triple-doubles (19) and recently tallied 22 points, 17 assists, and 14 rebounds in a win against Chicago. Previously, he missed 16 games after hyperextending his left knee in late December 2025. But he returned to the lineup on January 30, 2026, enhancing Denver’s brand appeal.
Concurrently, the Houston Rockets hold the #4 seed in the Western Conference. Following a quiet trade deadline where they made no moves, the team is leaning on their offseason acquisition of Kevin Durant and the “phenomenal” recent play of Alperen Şengün to secure home-court advantage for the playoffs.
James Harden Trade Enhances Cleveland Cavaliers Brand
The Cleveland Cavaliers acquired 11-time All-Star James Harden in a blockbuster trade with the Los Angeles Clippers on February 3, 2026. The move, finalized ahead of the NBA trade deadline, pairs the 36-year-old former MVP with star guard Donovan Mitchell. In turn, it should bolster Cleveland’s championship aspirations in the Eastern Conference.
Harden made a successful debut for the Cavaliers on Saturday, February 7, 2026, leading the team to a 132–126 sports betting victory over the Sacramento Kings. Harden scored 3 points, 8 assists, 2 rebounds, and 1 steal in 32 minutes. In turn, Harden hit a go-ahead three-pointer with 2:39 remaining and sank four critical free throws in the final 30 seconds to secure the win. Before the trade, Harden was averaging 25.4 points and 8.1 assists through 44 games for the Clippers, marking his highest scoring average in six years.
Unlike previous trade requests, Harden and the Clippers reportedly worked “collaboratively” on the move. Harden stated that he did not want to hinder the Clippers’ future rebuilding efforts. At the same time, Cleveland’s front office sought an elite playmaker to replace Darius Garland. Garland had been limited by a recurring toe injury and had not played since January 14.
The acquisition of James Harden has transformed the Cavaliers into a top-tier championship contender. Analysts agree the trade significantly raises Cleveland’s immediate playoff ceiling. Now the trade is providing the elite playmaking and health reliability that were missing during Darius Garland’s injury-plagued season.