...
...
Read Article
NBA & NHL betting guide: Luka Doncic’s Lakers vs. Suns and McDavid’s Oilers headline Thursday night odds
Updated: | First published:
Written by Nick Slade, Chief Content Officer
Reviewed by Dave Garofolo
Betting on Lakers vs. Suns or Oilers vs. Kings tonight? Get expert odds, player props for Luka Dončić and Connor McDavid, and a full guide to watching #13 Michigan State vs. #8 Purdue on Peacock this Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026.
Sports fans and bettors face a loaded slate tonight as the NBA and NHL return to full strength following the recent breaks, headlined by a Luka Doncic showdown in Phoenix and a national ESPN clash between the Edmonton Oilers and the Los Angeles Kings.
From the Big Ten title race on Peacock to the viral "Hockeyverse" debut in Denver, here is the definitive factual guide to tonight's matchups, broadcast schedules, and betting lines.
NBA Betting: Lakers vs. Suns Lead the Slate
Los Angeles Lakers vs. Phoenix Suns (9:00pm ET)
The matchup: The Lakers (34-23) travel to PHX Arena to face the Suns (33-26). This is the fourth meeting between these Pacific Division rivals this season.
The odds: The Lakers are currently 6-point favorites on the road with an over/under set at 222.5.
Player focus: Luka Doncic (32.5 PPG) enters tonight without an injury designation after recovering from a mid-February hamstring strain. The Suns will rely on Jalen Green and Collin Gillespie with Devin Booker sidelined.
Betting preview: Lakers vs. Suns prediction: Who will win and cover?
Broadcast: NBA League Pass, SportsNet LA, AZFamily, and Suns+.
Minnesota Timberwolves vs. LA Clippers (10:00pm ET)
The matchup: A high-stakes Western Conference battle featuring Anthony Edwards and Kawhi Leonard.
The odds: Minnesota is a 5.5-point favorite with an over/under set at 225.5.
Betting preview: Wolves vs. Clippers prediction: Who will win and cover?
Broadcast: NBA League Pass, Amazon Prime Video (National).
NHL Betting: McDavid and "Hockeyverse" Returns
Edmonton Oilers vs. Los Angeles Kings (10:30pm ET)
The matchup: This is the marquee NHL game of the night. It marks the first game back for Connor McDavid post-Olympics and the home debut of Artemi Panarin, who was acquired by the Kings in a blockbuster trade from the Rangers on February 5.
The odds: The Kings are short home favorites at -111, while the Oilers sit at -108. The total is set at 6.5.
Betting preview: Oilers vs. Kings prediction: Who will win and cover?
Broadcast: ESPN (National).
Minnesota Wild vs. Colorado Avalanche (9:00pm ET)
The innovation: In addition to the standard broadcast, the NHL is debuting "Bernie’s Mountain Showdown," an animated NHL Hockeyverse broadcast on KTVD. It uses real-time volumetric animation to render players as avatars in a Colorado-themed landscape.
Betting preview: Wild vs. Avs prediction: Who will win and cover?
Broadcast: 9NEWS (Traditional) / KTVD (Animated) / ESPN+.
CBB Betting: Big Ten Clash for #1 Seed
#13 Michigan State vs. #8 Purdue (8:00pm ET)
The stakes: Both teams are 22-5 (12-4 in Big Ten). The winner takes a massive step toward the regular-season conference title.
The odds: Purdue is a 7.5-point favorite at Mackey Arena. The over/under is 142
Key stat: Purdue leads the nation in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.2), while Michigan State boasts a top-20 scoring defense (66.1 PPG).
Broadcast: Peacock (Exclusive National Stream).
To give you the most accurate and helpful information, this article has been reviewed and edited by Dave Garofolo through our fact-checking process.
Nick Slade, with nearly two decades of experience, is the Chief Content Officer at Cipher Sports Technology Group, overseeing content for Dimers. He specializes in soccer, NBA, and NHL betting, leveraging predictive analytics and machine learning to provide accurate betting insights.
Advertiser disclosure