The Boston Celtics will seek to continue their surge in the Eastern Conference, traveling to Dallas to take on the Mavericks at 8 p.m. ET in the opener of NBA Coast 2 Coast Tuesday.
This will be the first of two meetings this season between the Celtics and Mavericks, who met in the 2024 NBA Finals that Boston won in five games. The Celtics are 9-2 against the Mavericks since the start of the 2022-23 season.
This will be the Celtics' first look at rookie sensation Cooper Flagg, a Maine native who grew up as a massive Boston fan.
In the 11 p.m. ET game Tuesday, the Portland Trail Blazers will play host to the Phoenix Suns.
See below for additional information on how to watch both games, a breakdown of the Celtics-Mavericks matchup and the NBA on NBC and Peacock. Peacock will feature 100 regular-season games throughout the 2025-2026 season.
Despite the absence of injured superstar Jayson Tatum, the Celtics (31-18) have been battling for a top-three spot in the Eastern Conference behind Jaylen Brown (on pace for career highs in scoring at 29.4 ppg and assists at 4.9), who recently was named an All-Star starter for the first time in his 10 seasons. There have been conflicting reports about a return this season for Tatum, who has returned to running and practicing after a torn right Achilles in last year's playoffs.
The Celtics excel in 3-point shooting (ranking second in shots made and attempted from long distance) and defense. Boston's Derrick White, a 6-4 guard, leads the team in steals (1.3 spg) and blocks (1.4 bpg), ranking seventh in the NBA with 2.71 "stocks" (steals and blocks).
The Mavericks (19-30) are led by Flagg, the No. 1 overall pick in last year's draft and the youngest player in the NBA. Flagg, who turned 19 on Dec. 21, tops Dallas in total points, rebounds, assists, and steals — the only player in the NBA leading their team in each category this year. The favorite for Rookie of the Year scored a career-high 49 points last Thursday in a loss to Charlotte, setting a record for most points by a teenager in NBA history and most points by a rookie in Dallas history.
Still without injured stars Kyrie Irving (torn ACL) and Anthony Davis (hand), the Mavs have relied on role players such as Naji Marshall (on pace for career highs and scoring and rebounding) and Max Christie (on pace for career highs in 3-pointers, rebounds and assists).
What other NBA games are on NBC and Peacock Coast 2 Coast Tuesday?
Peacock NBA Monday will stream up to three Monday night games each week throughout the regular season. Coast 2 Coast Tuesday presents doubleheaders on Tuesday nights throughout the regular season on NBC and Peacock. On most Tuesdays, an 8 p.m. ET game will be on NBC stations in the Eastern and Central time zones, and an 8 p.m. PT game on NBC stations in the Pacific and often Mountain time zones.
Check local listings each week. Both games will stream live nationwide on Peacock. NBC Sports will launch Sunday Night Basketball across NBC and Peacock on Feb. 1, 2026. For a full schedule of the NBA on NBC and Peacock, click here.
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NBA on NBC 2025-26 schedule:
Click here to see the full list of NBA games that will air on NBC and Peacock this season.
PORTLAND, OREGON - FEBRUARY 01: Jarrett Allen #31 of the Cleveland Cavaliers dunks during the first half against the Portland Trail Blazers at Moda Center on February 01, 2026 in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Soobum Im/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Allen is incredibly skilled offensively. His footwork, touch around the rim, quickness, and passing are advanced for someone at his position. That was on display as he ran around, over, and through Portland’s hapless center, Donovan Clingan, all evening.
The 40-point performance is what’s going to get the headlines, but the variety of ways Allen was able to score is what was most impressive.
He was a force in transition, beating his man down the floor. This created easy baskets if the defense forgot about him, and also allowed him to get smaller defenders caught in deep seals. This created driving lanes for others, as there are very few things that disrupt a defense as much as a mismatch right at the start of a possession.
Allen also consistently made the right move out of dribble-hand-offs. If his defender gave him room, Allen created space for the guard. If the center came up, Allen went around him for the drive to the hoop.
Then, there was the pick-and-roll game. He found ways to finish and create space for the ball handler in those situations. The vertical spacing he provides is incredibly valuable when the team is down two of its top scorers.
And lastly, Allen just did a good job of scoring on the block. He displayed his post moves, using up-and-unders and hook shots, to create angles inside.
Overall, it was just a completely dominant offensive showing from Allen, who did all of this in under 30 minutes and registered five assists as well.
As if the 40-ball wasn’t enough, Allen was also the best defender on the court. He completely controlled the glass with 17 rebounds, had four rejections, and added two steals just for fun. His defensive effort buoyed the Cavs on a night they started a little helter-skelter on that end.
Allen put up one of the most ridiculous stat lines in NBA history. I’m generally not a fan of cherry-picked stats, but you can tell if one is good based on the company of the other people in the club. And if you’re a center, you want to be in any group that features Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Shaquille O’Neal.
The only @NBA players EVER to record 40+ PTS, 17+ REB, 5+ AST, 4+ BLK and 2+ STL in a game:
JARRETT ALLEN (TONIGHT at POR)*** Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (12/13/75 at PHX) Joe Barry Carroll (2/1/87 vs. NJN) Shaquille O'Neal (3/23/01 vs. WAS) Joel Embiid (2/19/21 vs. CHI)#LetEmKnow
Games like this show how good Allen is, but also why his typical inconsistent play can be so infuriating. It’s fair to point out that Portland isn’t exactly built to stop Allen. Their defense wasn’t disciplined, which allowed someone who was steadily and consistently executing to have a big night. But that doesn’t account for all of Allen’s success.
We’ve consistently seen that Allen is at his best when Evan Mobley is unavailable. Allen’s most impressive stretch of basketball as a Cavalier came in the 2023-24 season with Mobley out of the lineup. And now, we’re seeing that again in a similar situation.
This would be explainable if it were simply that Allen’s offensive game doesn’t mesh with Mobley’s. And while it’s true that Allen now has much more room to operate offensively, he also plays just over half of his minutes each game with Mobley when both are available. The duo is playing an average of 15.4 minutes a night together. Overall, Allen is averaging 27.1 minutes per game.
If it were simply a spacing issue, we should see some version of this Allen when Mobley is on the bench. However, the difference is more so in how Allen seems to approach the game when he’s the only center.
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Allen plays with much more force and aggression when Mobley is unavailable. His skill set requires him to play that way to be effective. A center coasting through games isn’t going to have the necessary impact on either end of the floor. Their presence needs to be felt at all times if they’re mostly a paint-bound big.
I’m not sure how you get around this issue. Force-feeding Allen early in games would help. It’s certainly something the team should be prioritizing. But it’s also true that Allen’s effort shouldn’t be dependent on who’s in or out of the lineup. He’s far too good a player to have his energy fluctuate so dramatically on a night-to-night basis.
Ultimately, that’s only something Allen can fix.
Sam Merrill’s shooting can open up the game for everyone else. He went 6-8 from beyond the arc. This went a long way in Cleveland, finishing the game going 16-34 (47.1%) from three.
The havoc Merrill causes when he shoots this well is incredibly helpful for an offense. Defenders were closing out incredibly hard every time Merrill came off a screen. This led to him having four assists and helped open up lanes inside for his teammates.
It’s no surprise the Cavs had a 141.3 offensive rating when Merrill was on the floor. That number tied Allen for the highest mark on the team. Merrill playing this well simply unlocks the entire offensive attack.
Craig Porter Jr. continues to have an impact as a facilitator. He didn’t look to score, but was able to get his teammates involved by picking up a career-high 12 assists.
Porter’s feel for the game was on complete display. He did a great job of finding the open man by making the simple, correct pass time after time. This included hitting Allen in the pick-and-roll, Jaylon Tyson in the short roll, and Merrill coming off screens.
The Cavs needed someone to provide extra playmaking duties while they wait for Dennis Schroder to join them for Wednesday’s game. Porter more than stepped up on Sunday.
The NBA trade deadline is three days away, and the Sixers could face a big decision regarding the future of their franchise.
This time of year, trade rumors are heaved like end-of-quarter 70-footers. As we approach this deadline, several of them are scenarios involving Bucks megastar Giannis Antetokounmpo.
There aren’t many teams who can even entertain a deal to acquire the 2-time league MVP. Many don’t have the combination of young talent, salary, and draft capital Milwaukee would want to level a trade of this magnitude.
The Sixers happen to be able to foot the bill, but they shouldn’t try.
Giannis is a singular talent. A perennial All-Star and MVP short-lister. He’s also crazy expensive, commanding $58.5 million next season, with a player option for 2027-28 worth $62.8 million. Its difficult enough to fill out a roster with three players commanding $145 million.
Acquiring Antetokounmpo would require the Sixers to move on from Joel Embiid or Paul George. But not just Embiid or George. The Sixers would have to include more salary. To give up their franchise player, Milwaukee will probably ask for young talent. By young talent, they mean rookie guard VJ Edgecombe, or second-year man Jared McCain. In addition, the Bucks will likely ask for a minimum of three, even four first-round draft picks or pick swaps.
Giannis is blessed with an amazing amount of natural ability. What he most likely won’t bring to his new team is availability. He is currently sidelined with a self-diagnosed calf injury. This season will be the sixth of his last seven where he will miss at least 15 regular season games.
Having Giannis on your team will make it better, but how much better? Since the Bucks won the NBA title in 2021, they’ve won exactly one playoff series since.
Let’s not forget the fact that he is actively requesting to be traded. What happens if he becomes a Sixer, then he doesn’t love it in Philadelphia? He’s likely to force another trade right out again, a year or two older, with less value than you gave up for him, and likely less interest. Sixers fans lived through this already with James Harden. Did we forget so quickly?
This move would a nuclear option for a team who truly believes it is one player away from title contention, and one that screams “To Hell with the future.”
The Sixers are not currently one player away. They already are short on roster depth, something a trade would only worsen. And this move would send away much of its future in actual talent, and draft capital.
If the Bucks are actually selling, maybe Daryl Morey can attack on the margins, perhaps making a move for frontcourt help, like Bobby Portis. He could certainly help the Sixers in the rebounding department, and comes relatively inexpensively at $13.4 million. Would the Sixers try reserves Andre Drummond and Quentin Grimes for Portis?
BOSTON - 1986: Kevin McHale #32 of the Boston Celtics makes a move to the basket against Buck Williams #52 of the New Jersey Nets during a game played in 1986 at the Boston Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1986 NBAE (Photo by Dick Raphael/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
There’s no question that Larry Bird was the beating heart of the 1980’s and early ‘90’s Boston Celtics, but no one wins championships by themselves and one of Bird’s greatest teammates was Kevin McHale.
Hailing from Hibbing, Minnesota, McHale attended Minnesota before entering the NBA in 1980 when Red Auerbach pulled off a legendary trade: he swapped the #1 pick to Golden State for the #3 pick and Robert Parish.
The Warriors then took Purdue’s Joe Barry Carroll – quickly named Joe Barely Cares by NBA fans – and Boston had two future Hall of Famers.
McHale came off the bench as a sixth man for a few years before joining Bird and Parish as starters. And what a career he had.
McHale was celebrated for his footwork and his elegant post moves. In today’s game, there is less demand for this kind of play, but the guy was essentially unstoppable inside. Basketball is cyclical like most things, prone to fashionable ideas.
We’re basically out of the small ball era and a player who can consistently score inside is going to be a valuable asset. McHale is a great role model for those players.
Incidentally, for a small town, Hibbing has produced some remarkable people. Aside from McHale, Hibbing is the hometown of baseball legend Roger Maris, Vincent Bugliosi, who prosecuted Charles Manson and his stooges, Robert Mondavi, who sold a whole lot of wine, Gus Hall, who ran four times for U.S. president as the nominee of the U.S. Communist Party, Gary Puckett of Gary Puckett and the Union Gap and perhaps most famously, legendary musician Bob Dylan.
First, a disclaimer: Brad Stevens often works in the shadows.
Some of Stevens’ most notable acquisitions as Celtics president of basketball operations have come relatively out of the blue (Derrick White, Kristaps Porzingis and Anfernee Simons, to name a few examples), while he’s tended to avoid popular names linked to Boston in trade rumors.
So, if you hear a name mentioned in the same sentence as the Celtics ahead of the NBA trade deadline (Thursday at 3 p.m. ET), that certainly doesn’t mean the player will wind up in Boston.
As you’ll see, the Celtics’ top priority appears to be adding frontcourt depth to augment Neemias Queta and Luka Garza. Stevens is hard to predict, however, so we’re not ruling out anything between now and Thursday.
Here’s a roundup of Celtics-related rumors, which we’ll update as the deadline gets closer.
Wednesday, Jan. 28: According to HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto, Celtics big man Chris Boucher is drawing “exploratory interest” from the Hawks, Sixers and Suns, among other teams. Boucher has appeared in just nine games for Boston this season, so he’s an obvious trade candidate if the C’s can find a willing partner.
Tuesday, Jan. 27: Earlier this season, the Celtics reached out to the Clippers about a trade for big man Ivica Zubac, per HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto. While Zubac would be a great fit in Boston, Los Angeles has rebounded from a slow start to become a fringe playoff contender, which makes a deal seem unlikely.
Friday, Jan. 23: The Celtics are “in the marketplace” for “a big-time starting center,” ESPN’s Shams Charania reports. While Charania didn’t mention any specific names, Mavericks center Daniel Gafford is among potential trade candidates to watch this week.
Wednesday, Jan. 15: The Athletic’s Jay King cited Nets big man Nic Claxton as a potential target to watch ahead of the trade deadline. Claxton still has two additional years remaining on his contract and is making $25.4 million this season, so he wouldn’t come cheap.
Tuesday, Jan. 14: Matt Moore, author of the Hardwood Paroxysm newsletter, reports the Celtics have “long held interest” in Grizzlies big man Jaren Jackson Jr. Memphis very well could move Jackson before the deadline, but the C’s would have to give up a haul for the former Defensive Player of the Year.
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - DECEMBER 11: Anfernee Simons #4 of the Boston Celtics dribbles the basketball up court during the second half of the game against the Milwaukee Bucks at Fiserv Forum on December 11, 2025 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images) | Getty Images
1. Dominant Defensive Performance
The Celtics held the Bucks to only 79 points, the lowest point total that a team has finished with against Boston this season. The previous low was 90 points against the New Orleans Pelicans on October 27th. After allowing 26 points in the first quarter, Boston only allowed 16 in the second, 19 in the third, and 18 in the fourth quarter.
When asked postgame if Joe Mazzulla changed any part of his defense after the first quarter, he said that they were just playing “a little bit more physical” but nothing else changed a whole lot. He highlighted the Bucks shooting 5-8 from three in the first quarter which is over their average three point percentage and that led to the defensive physicality going up and the Bucks shooting 5-26 from beyond the arc for the rest of the game.
Bucks Shooting Zone Chart (Via NBA.com)
2. Jaylen Brown Big Second Half
For the 26th time this season, Jaylen Brown has scored 30+ points in a game, finishing with 30 points and 13 rebounds on 12-20 shooting from the field and 4-6 from three. A lot of Brown’s impact came in the second half, scoring 22 of his 30 points and really iced the game early with a couple of big runs.
After scoring 8 points in the first half, Brown finished the third quarter with 12 points. Brown operated flawlessly in the midrange and scored the Celtics first 7 points of the second half. He started with a beautiful jumper over Kyle Kuzma on the baseline, then hit a wide open pull up jumper coming off a Neemias Queta screen, and finally he ended his midrange mastery with an And-1 jumper over Ryan Rollins. Brown wasn’t done in the third quarter however, splashing a three and drawing a goaltending against Myles Turner.
Moving on to the fourth quarter, the Bucks were on a 9-0 run midway through the quarter and cut the Celtics lead to 19. That was when Brown started another scoring tear, going on a personal 10-0 run to ice the game for Boston.
He started the run with a nice driving layup on Ryan Rollins. Then he moved on to a wide open three pointer on the wing. The next basket came off of a missed shot by Brown, but Queta made a nice save before it went out of bounds and he was able to get a second chance and make an easy layup. The final basket felt like the dagger in this game as Derrick White made a nice cross court pass to Brown for a wide open corner three, a Bucks timeout, and a loud cheer by the TD Garden crowd.
Anfernee Simons had a great game against the Bucks, finishing with 27 points shooting 10-18 from the field and 6-10 from three. This is the 9th time this season that Simons has scored over 20 points off of the bench this season and in this game he had an offensive explosion in the last 2:25 of the first quarter, scoring 11 straight points.
Simons began his offensive explosion with getting Gary Trent Jr. on an island and making a straight line drive to the basket for a layup. Next, Derrick White got a steal and found Simons wide open on the fast break for three. The third basket was arguably his best play of the night. Guarded by Pete Nance, Simons hit him with a nasty crossover and hit a step back three in his face. Finally for final bucket of the quarter, he shot a heat check three over Amir Coffey at the buzzer to tie the game.
If this was Anfernee Simons’ last game in TD Garden, he sure did go out with a bang and to a standing ovation from the TD Garden faithful as he checked out of the game.
4. Derrick White Great Offensive Performance
In a season with some offensive inconsistency from Derrick White, this game was one of his better all-around games this year. White finished with 17 points, 8 assists, and 7 rebounds on 6-14 shooting and you could feel the impact that he made with his scoring and playmaking.
After hitting two threes in the first quarter, White started to find his groove with two buckets in the second quarter and one in the third. In the last minute of the second quarter, White hit Myles Turner with a nice crossover and finished a layup over a good contest. The next basket had AJ Green on an island and White hit a pull up midrange jumper over him. Finally, around the start of the third quarter, he had another nice mid range jumper, getting wide open on bad defense by Kyle Kuzma.
Out of White’s eight assists, I would say he had three that really were really impressive. The first came in the first quarter off of a stolen pass by White where he found Anfernee Simons on the fast break for a three. The second came in fourth quarter where he drew the attention of three Bucks players and was able to find Neemias Queta wide open for a hook shot. Finally, White made a cross court pass to Brown who was wide open in the corner for three to seal the victory for the Celtics.
One battle that I was paying attention to in this game was Neemias Queta against Myles Turner. Queta was coming off of a dominant performance against the Sacramento Kings and I thought that with the lacking inside presence that Myles Turner presents, he could feast. My theory was proven correct in this case with Queta finishing with 14 points and 8 rebounds on 7-10 shooting while Turner finished with only 7 points and 4 rebounds on 2-8 shooting.
The first bucket he had came on play where he faked a handoff to Brown and turned the corner for a big slam that Turner just let happen because he wasn’t paying attention. Next one came when Queta was streaking down the court and took Turner one-on-one under the basket. After a few pump fakes, he was able to hit a nice hook shot. The third came in the second quarter when Jordan Walsh was cutting to the basket, Turner decided to double him on the baseline and was late to contest Queta who hit a wide open shot. Finally, Pritchard made a nice bounce pass to Queta under the basket that he was able to finish with a reverse layup over Turner.
Jordan Walsh’s final stat-line of 6 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists and 1 block on 2-6 shooting might not look impressive but if you watched the game you would know how much of a menace he was on the Bucks all night long.
Starting with the two baskets Walsh made, both of them were an instance that he was able to make something out of nothing. The first came on a pass from Brown who wasn’t intending to pass it to Walsh, but it ended up with on the perimeter. To save the play, Walsh pump faked a wide open three that Pete Nance bit on and drove to the basket to finish a tough layup. The second bucket he scored was a similar driving layup over Nance that he finished with an and-1.
Walsh’s rebounding was the big story however, as all 5 of his rebounds on the night came as offensive rebounds. These were the highlights of his hustle play in this game and was a big reason why the Celtics won the rebounding battle.
Hugo Gonzalez finished with 0 points in this game so you would think there isn’t anything to talk about with his performance but I really liked the way he played in this game. He also had 5 rebounds and 2 steals and similar to Jordan Walsh, Hugo was terrorizing the Bucks on defense, making the extra effort.
His 2 steals in this game were some great plays, the first coming on a play where Ryan Rollins air mailed a pass that Hugo was tracking like Christian Gonzalez on the Patriots, and started a fast break. The second came in the fourth quarter where White back-tapped Kyle Kuzma. Gonzalez ran with the steal and found Derrick Whtie who ended up getting fouled on his shot attempt. Hugo had a couple miscues on offense in this game that would have given him some easy baskets, but in 17 minutes that were played, he was a +11 overall, showcasing his positive impact.
Without Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Bucks really have no presence under neath the basket and it showed in the points in the paint battle. Boston outscored them 42-28 and with Milwaukee’s three point shooting falling off a cliff throughout the game, that was the biggest outlier for their loss. Not only did they get manhandled there, they lost the rebounding battle as well. The Celtics out-rebounded the Bucks 52-40 and 17 of Boston’s rebounded were on the offensive side. Just a dominant paint performance by the Celtics.
9. Positive Assist-Turnover Ratio
After only turning the ball over 7 times against Sacramento on Friday, Boston continued their streak of limiting turnovers with only 9 against Milwaukee while forcing 10 against the Bucks. This is huge for the Celtics because turnovers have been a big deal in a lot of Boston’s losses so the face they were limited today was great. Not only were the Celtics great with the turnovers, but they also finished with 24 assists on the night. A lot of these assists resulted in wide open shots as the Bucks defense was a step behind the Celtics on what felt like every possession. If Boston shot even a little bit better than the 15-42 (36%) from three, the Celtics probably win this game by 50 points.
10. Pioneers Classic Champs
The Bucks vs Celtics game today was the Pioneers Classic Game celebrating the 75th anniversary of the NBA’s first black players Chuck Cooper, Earl Llyod, and Nathaniel “Sweetwater” Clifton. Cooper made history with the Celtics, becoming the first black player to get drafted to the NBA in the second round of the 1950 NBA Draft. Cooper is in the Basketball Hall of Fame and played 6 seasons in the NBA, 4 of which with the Boston Celtics but also with the Milwaukee/St. Louis Hawks and the Fort Wayne Pistons. Boston also honored other legends in this game, including the families of Bill Russell, Tom “Satch” Sanders, K.C. Jones, and Sam Jones.
Boston was able dominate Milwaukee all night long, winning 107-79 and receiving the inaugural Pioneers Classic Trophy. Jaylen Brown was given the trophy in his postgame interview and said “What an honor to be able to celebrate the legacy of the people that came before us.”
"What an honor to be able to celebrate the legacy of the people that came before us."
It appears the Milwaukee Bucks might actually be interested in dealing superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo before the NBA’s Feb. 5 trade deadline.
After the Bucks reportedly started listening to trade offers for the two-time MVP last week, when he expressed his desire to play elsewhere, Milwaukee is doing more than just listening while deciding whether to trade its franchise icon before Thursday’s deadline or wait until the offseason.
ESPN’s Shams Charania joined “SportsCenter” on Sunday night and shared the latest on where negotiations stand between the Bucks and interested teams.
“Over the weekend, the Bucks remain engaged with NBA teams that have interest, that have given aggressive proposals,” Charania said. “My understanding is they’ve submitted counteroffers to those aggressive proposals as well.”
Whether the Bucks trade the 10-time All-Star before Thursday’s deadline or wait until the offseason remains to be seen and almost certainly will depend on whether one of the interested teams can put together an offer compelling enough to convince Milwaukee to deal Antetokounmpo now as opposed to over the summer, when his trade market could be more robust.
“The Heat, Timberwolves, Golden State Warriors, the New York Knicks, those have been the most serious suitors in the mix so far for Giannis, but it all comes down to the price point for him, right?” Charania explained.
“A young player and a surplus of draft picks. So who meets that mark between now and the next four days up until Thursday’s NBA trade deadline? The Bucks have to manage the risk and reward, whether you do a deal now or you wait until the offseason when Giannis only has one year left. That gives him even more control to figure out and dictate his future in the offseason.”
If the Bucks indeed are sending out counteroffers to interested teams, that’s a strong indicator that one of the biggest trades in league history might be right around the corner.
LeBron James has been selected for a record-extending 22nd consecutive NBA All-Star game by being named among the reserves from the Western Conference.
The 41-year-old Los Angeles Lakers star was not selected as a starter in January but was among the seven reserves chosen from each of the Eastern and Western Conferences by NBA coaches.
James, who missed his side's first 14 matches of the 2025-26 campaign because of sciatica, has played 31 times this season and is averaging 21.9 points per game.
"It wasn't a goal of mine to come into the season, miss the first 14 games and say, 'OK, I can be an All-Star'," James told reporters after playing in the Lakers' 112-100 defeat against the New York Knicks.
"I just wanted to get back to playing the game at a high level I knew I was capable of once I kind of worked the rust off of missing pre-season, training camp and my summer workouts, which I've never done in my whole career.
"So I didn't think about the All-Star Game, to be honest."
James was selected for the NBA All-Star game in 2025 but did not play because he picked up an injury.
Kevin Durant, who plays for the Houston Rockets, Devin Booker of the Phoenix Suns and Anthony Edwards from the Minnesota Timberwolves were also selected as a Western Conference reserves.
The All-Star game has been revamped this season and will feature two teams of players from the United States and one team of international players.
They will compete in a round-robin tournament of four 12-minute games. The top two teams will then face each other in a championship game.
Schedule awareness is one of the simplest ways to gain a weekly advantage in fantasy basketball. Knowing when game volume and matchups align allows managers to make sharper lineup decisions, build more effective streaming plans and extract additional value from the waiver wire. In this article, we will analyze the weekly schedule to plan for optimal roster management.
Days with fewer than six games
These are dates to target players for streaming options from the following teams:
Monday, Feb. 2 - NOP at CHA, HOU at IND, MIN at MEM, PHI at LAC
Teams with more than three games this week
Make sure to activate players and target weekly pickups from the following teams:
vs. Timberwolves, at Kings, at Trail Blazers, at Trail Blazers
The Grizzlies open with their toughest opponent of the week, as they take on the Timberwolves, who are limiting opponents to the league's fifth-lowest field-goal percentage. However, they also give up the third-most points per game to opposing point guards, which could allow Ty Jerome to build on a solid showing in his last outing. Up next, the Grizzlies meet with the Kings, who give up the league's fourth-most points, along with the second-most points in the paint per game and the second-highest field-goal percentage.
With a handful of injuries among the Grizzlies' lineup, Cedric Coward has a great opportunity to step up on the offensive end and take advantage of the lackluster defense. Moving ahead, the Grizzlies close the week with back-to-back games against the Trail Blazers, who give up the league's eighth-most points and most turnovers per game. They also give up the fourth-most points per game to opposing centers, which provides an ideal chance for Jaren Jackson Jr., Santi Aldama, and Jock Landale to prosper.
Toronto Raptors
vs. Timberwolves, vs. Bulls, vs. Pacers
The Raptors open their week against a tough opponent in the Timberwolves, but they have the personnel to take advantage at the point-guard position, where Immanuel Quickley and Jamal Shead have been doing a good job lately. Up next, a meeting with the Bulls, who give up the league's fifth-most points, including the fourth-most points in the paint per game. Raptors forwards Scottie Barnes and Brandon Ingram do a great job getting to the lane for easy buckets and should look to make the most of the opportunity. Finally, the Raptors close the week with another favorable matchup, as they take on the Pacers, who give up the league's sixth-most points per game and the fifth-highest field-goal percentage. They also give up the third-most points in the paint, which again favors the aforementioned players, while guys like Collin Murray-Boyles and Sandro Mamukelashvili should also find room to stand out.
Milwaukee Bucks
vs. Bulls, vs. Pelicans, vs. Pacers
The Bucks begin Week 16 against the Bulls, who are struggling on the defensive end, especially guarding the interior, as they give up the league's fifth-most points per game to opposing centers and the most points per game to opposing power forwards. Despite missing Giannis Antetokounmpo from the lineup, the Bucks should still be able to make the most of the situation by following the lead of Bobby Portis, Kyle Kuzma and Myles Turner, who will be in an ideal position to thrive.
Next, the Bucks meet with the Pelicans, who give up the league's third-most points, including the second-most 3-pointers per game and seventh-highest field-goal percentage. This should be a matchup where Ryan Rollins, A.J. Green and Gary Trent Jr. look to step up and use their long-distance shooting to claim the upper hand. Finally, the Bucks finish up the week against the Pacers, who give up the league's second-most free throws and fourth-most rebounds per game, which once again should allow space for the Bucks' bigs to make their mark, while drives to the basket to draw fouls will be an area where the entire squad must look to contribute.
Miami Heat
vs. Hawks, at Celtics, at Wizards
The Heat begin their week against the Hawks, who have yet to find stability on the defensive end, as they give up the league's seventh-most points per game and eighth-highest field-goal percentage. They also give up the fifth-most rebounds per game, which should mean a great opportunity for Bam Adebayo and Kel'el Ware to establish an advantage down low. Moving ahead, the Heat take on the Celtics, who, although they sit in third place in the East, also give up the league's fifth-most 3-pointers per game. Guys like Andrew Wiggins, Norman Powell and Pelle Larsson will be critical in ensuring their squad can derive the most benefit from downtown. Lastly, the Heat clash with the Wizards, who have one of the worst defenses in the league, giving up the second-most points, along with the fourth-most free throws and most rebounds per game. They also give up the fifth-most points in the paint. This poses a prime opportunity for guys like Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Simone Fontecchio to flourish.
Atlanta Hawks
at Heat, vs. Jazz, vs. Hornets
The Hawks open the week against the Heat, who give up the league's ninth-most points and second-most rebounds per game. The battle on the interior will be critical in determining which side comes out on top, putting the pressure on Jalen Johnson to adjust, especially if Onyeka Okongwu remains sidelined. However, Okongwu could also be ready to go, which would be a major benefit for his side in that specific area. Up next, the Hawks encounter the Jazz, who give up the league's most points, including the most 3-pointers per game and the second-highest field-goal percentage. They also give up the league's second-most turnovers per game.
Finally, the Hawks wrap their week against the Hornets, who give up the league's seventh-highest 3-point shooting percentage and sixth-most turnovers per game. Dyson Daniels, who averages 1.9 steals per game, is the perfect candidate to pad his stats on the defensive end in the matchup. The Hawks have a handful of top-notch shooters, including CJ McCollum, Luke Kennard and Nickeil Alexander-Walker, who will likely find the chance to get going.
“I already know it’s going to be a kangaroo. I just don’t know the place,” Alcaraz said. “I’m just thinking about the leg but I don’t know which calf, whether it will be the right or left one.”
Alcaraz posed for photographers Monday with the ornate Australian Open trophy, looking casually stylish in black, in loafers and no socks. The photo shoot took place at the Royal Exhibition Building among gardens in central Melbourne.
According to Australian media reports, Alcaraz spent the night after his victory with his family in his hotel suite, ordering pizza, beer and champagne.
In a social media post to fans during the photo shoot, Alcaraz said “I still can't believe that I just made it.
“A dream come true for me, a career Grand Slam. I'm enjoying this amazing moment. I can't forget the support and the love I've received.”
He explained his mindset at the moment of victory.
“Before the last point ... a lot of things came to my mind, to be honest,” Alcaraz said. “I was really nervous, I was shaking almost. So once I saw the ball go out, I was like ‘alright, I made it.’
“It was a great feeling, thinking about my family and my team as well.”
Chasing completion
He has now set his sights of winning every major prize in tennis: three Masters 1000 titles that have eluded him, a season-ending championship and a Davis Cup with Spain. He has won six of the nine Masters 1000 crowns but has yet to win the Canadian Open, Shanghai and the Paris Masters.
“I hate to lose, so that’s my motivation. Trying to lose as less as I can,” Alcaraz said. “Yeah, there are some tournaments that I really wanted to win at least once. A few Masters 1000 I just really wanted to complete all the Masters 1000, trying to win each one at least once.
“Obviously the ATP Finals and the Davis Cup is a goal as well. I really wanted to achieve that for my country, for Spain. I set up some other goals for the season and I will try to be ready for, or to try to get those goals.”
Joining the greats
Alcaraz joined Don Budge, Fred Perry, Roy Emerson, Rod Laver, Andre Agassi, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Djokovic as only the ninth man to win all four Grand Slams. He was younger than Budge by 91 days and considerably younger than Nadal who was 24 and three months, Federer almost 28 and Djokovic 29.
“I’m going to say tennis really beautiful but the bad part of tennis is we have tournaments week after week after week and sometimes you don’t realize what you’ve been doing lately,” he said. “Because once you finish a tournament, you’ve got to be prepared and your mind is about going to the next tournament.
“What I’ve learned this year is to appreciate and enjoy every single second of the moment you’re living. Not only lifting the trophies but playing tournaments, playing tennis, getting victories, getting losses. Whatever it is, just enjoy and appreciate the life you’re living.”
While Alcaraz has acknowledged the 38-year-old Djokovic as an inspiration, he's not sure he will be as durable.
“You know, let’s see how long I will be playing. Hopefully being in such a great shape at 38, competing and challenging the young players, and playing finals of grand slams.”
Photo by Ronald Cortes/Getty Images | Getty Images
The day began with uncertainty, stretched into frustration and ended, finally, with resolve.
After winter weather and travel complications pushed tipoff more than five hours past its scheduled start, the San Antonio Spurs shook off the chaos and delivered a 112–103 victory over the Orlando Magic on Sunday night at the Frost Bank Center — a win that reflected not just talent, but resilience.
When the ball finally went up, the Spurs played as if eager to reclaim control of a day that had refused to cooperate. San Antonio burst out of the gate, scoring 37 points in the first quarter, fueled by crisp ball movement and an aggressive defensive effort. Victor Wembanyama immediately imposed his will on both ends of the floor, blocking shots, finishing in traffic and energizing a crowd that had waited all evening to see their beloved Spurs.
For a moment, it appeared the long day would fade quietly into a comfortable win, but Orlando had other plans.
The Magic flipped the game in the second quarter, outscoring the Spurs 40-23 and exposing the fatigue that inevitably crept in. San Antonio’s shots stopped falling, turnovers piled up, and the early lead vanished as Orlando seized momentum before halftime. What once looked routine had turned into a test.
It was in that moment — after the delays, after the lost rhythm — that the Spurs steadied themselves and took control for good.
“Heck of a response by those guys and they’ve proven that quite a bit this year,” Spurs Head Coach Mitch Johnson said. “I am very pleased with the effort and the response. The defense in the second half was nails.”
San Antonio opened the third quarter with renewed purpose, stringing together stops and launching a 10-2 run that reclaimed control. The pace slowed, the defense tightened and the Spurs began to impose their will inside, winning the rebounding battle and repeatedly earning trips to the free-throw line.
“I think it was more challenge and yelling,” Johnson said of his team’s defense in the second half. “We saw what happened in Charlotte where one quarter cost us the game. So I was pleased with the response in the second half.”
De’Aaron Fox guided the offense with patience, finishing with 14 points and 10 assists, while Dylan Harper provided 15 points off the bench to keep Orlando from gaining traction. And hovering over it all was Wembanyama, whose 25 points, eight rebounds, five blocks and four steals told only part of the story. His presence altered possessions, changed decisions and anchored San Antonio when the game hung in the balance.
The Magic made their final push in the fourth quarter, cutting the deficit and briefly threatening to turn the night on its head. Each time, the Spurs answered — a stop here, a free throw there — refusing to let the game slip back into chaos.
When the final horn sounded, the frustrating issues of the day no longer mattered.
“It was a great day,” Harper said with a smile. “This is what comes with the game, but if we’re going to play — we’re going to play hard. We are here for the fans and we poured our energy into it.”
What remained was a victory earned the hard way, one shaped by patience and grit. On a night delayed by travel issues and defined by uncertainty, the Spurs found clarity where it mattered most — on the scoreboard.
Game Notes
With the Oklahoma City Thunder’s victory over the Denver Nuggets, Coach Johnson has been named a head coach for the 2026 NBA All-Star Game. Johnson and his staff will coach one of the three All-Star teams in the new U.S. vs. World format.
Despite the win, the three-point woes continue to be an issue for the Spurs. San Antonio shot just 8-for-29 (27%) from beyond the arc. The good news? Orlando wasn’t much better, shooting just 33% from distance.
With Stephon Castle out with abductor tightness, Harrison Barnes made his return to the starting unit and finished with seven points. What will be interesting to see if Coach Johnson puts HB back on the bench once Castle returns from injury.
I’m not sure why Desmond Bane was so angry at Wembanyama and Carter Bryant, but he clearly had some issues after fouling both players hard in the second half. Maybe he needs a Snickers.
Luke Doncic flipped off Jalen Brunson after the Knicks defeated the Lakers on Feb. 1.
Luka Dončić had a parting gift for Jalen Brunson before the pair of former Mavericks teammates walked off the Garden court Sunday night.
As Knicks and Lakers players embraced following the Knicks’ 112-100 victory, Dončić flashed his middle finger after the star point guard finished another postgame exchange and walked over.
Dončić appeared to be joking with the gesture, as Brunson appeared to crack a smile as he got closer.
Luka Doncic shows Jalen Brunson the middle finger at the end of the Knicks-Lakers game pic.twitter.com/7JDMB1QYuW
Brunson and Dončić’s paths intersected back in 2018, when the former was selected at No. 33 overall in the second round and the latter was taken No. 3 overall by the Hawks — before getting shipped to Dallas in a trade that night.
They then overlapped for four seasons before the Mavericks allowed Brunson to walk in free agency and sign with the Knicks, where he has since become their captain and one of the league’s best players.
Luke Doncic flipped off Jalen Brunson after the Knicks defeated the Lakers on Feb. 1. Screengrab via X/@MrBuckBuckNBA
That left Dončić as the cornerstone in Dallas for the next two-plus seasons, until the Mavericks stunningly sent him to the Lakers last season — a deal that has since backfired for them and led to general manager Nico Harrison being fired.
“Definitely weird,” Brunson told reporters postgame when asked about seeing Dončić in a Lakers jersey. “I think we all expected him to be in Dallas for the longest time. But yeah now he’s a Laker and he’s playing great and still doing the things he does.”
Luke Doncic defends Jalen Brunson during the Knicks’ game against the Lakers on Feb. 1. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Brunson and Dončić both played integral roles in the Mavericks’ run to the Western Conference finals in 2022, where they were eliminated by the Warriors in five games before Brunson’s pivotal decision in free agency followed.
When they overlapped at the Garden on Sunday, Dončić, who’s averaging 33.7 points per game and could win the MVP award if he maintains that production pace, poured in 30 points for Los Angeles, while Brunson struggled by going 4-for-15 from the field — though he managed to dish out 13 assists, allowing the Knicks’ role players to flourish.
The victory extended the Knicks’ winning streak to six games, and the Lakers have dropped two of their last three entering Tuesday’s match against the tanking Nets.
HOUSTON, TEXAS - DECEMBER 29: Kevin Durant #7 of the Houston Rockets drives to the basket against Pascal Siakam #43 of the Indiana Pacers in the first half at Toyota Center on December 29, 2025 in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Indiana Pacers have won three straight games at five of their last six at home. That includes wins over the Boston Celtics, Miami Heat, and New Orleans Pelicans (a team Houston has struggled with this season). Oh, and in the midst of all that they went into Oklahoma City and beat the Thunder.
We’re at the point of the year where teams are outright tanking. Even the teams that know that it’s in their best interest to be bad are trying to learn what they have while remaining competitive. As the better teams look to the All-Star break as an opportunity to rest and recover, teams at the bottom of the standings see wounded contenders ready to be taken down. Then, after the All-Star break, they can have conversations with their veterans that go along the lines of “Do you really want us to play you 30 minutes a night, or would you rather save your legs and extend your career by another season?” Right now, the Pacers are trying to show proof of concept to their fans and the league. Next season, armed with a lottery pick and a returning Tyrese Haliburton, they’ll look to make a run at the Eastern Conference title once again.
And in case you’d forgotten, there are some good players still playing in Indiana. Pascal Siakam is one of the most well-rounded players in the league. Jarace Walker, the former Cougar, always has something extra for Houston. Aaron Nesmith showed last season that he’s a bona fide 3-and-D guy. Jay Huff loves to reverse dunk. Benedict Mathurin is a microwave scorer off the bench. T.J. McConnell is their version of “the guy you hate unless he’s on your team,” except McConnell is actually fun to watch. And of course I’ll save Andrew Nembhard for last. He just dropped 26p/10a/6r against the Hawks in anticipation of Gonzaga’s big with over St. Mary’s on Saturday. He’s a starting-caliber point guard and it’s going to be interesting if they see the duo of him and Haliburton being able to play together long term or if they look to move Nembhard in an attempt to replace some of what they lost in Myles Turner.
Michael Porter Jr. drives to the basket during the Nets' Jan. 23 game.
Michael Porter Jr. got snubbed.
The Nets forward had called making his first All-Star Game a dream, and he had a great case amid a career year.
But he was one of the most glaring omissions on Sunday, not included among the seven Eastern Conference reserves.
Porter — who sat out the Nets game at Detroit on Sunday — is averaging 25.6 points and 7.3 rebounds per game along with 3.8 3-pointers, all career highs.
He joined Lakers star Luka Doncic as the only players in the NBA averaging 25 points, seven boards and three 3s, but that didn’t get him an invitation to the Feb. 15 All-Star Game in L.A.
“It definitely would be a dream come true,” Porter had said in December. “It was in my mind as a kid to make the NBA, but not only be in the NBA but be one of the best players in the NBA. And an All-Star selection shows that progress.”
That progress is undeniable, even if Porter has been spurned — for now. It’s possible he’ll be named later as an injury replacement.
“He’s playing at an All-Star level. If you like watching basketball, I’m pretty sure you’ll like watching Michael play,” said Jordi Fernandez.
Michael Porter Jr. drives to the basket during the Nets’ Jan. 23 game. Charles Wenzelberg
The East nods went to Donovan Mitchell, Jalen Johnson, Karl-Anthony Towns, Norman Powell, Scottie Barnes, Jalen Duren and Pascal Siakam.
The latter plays for an Indiana team that was just 13-36, a game worse than tanking Brooklyn’s 13-34 mark entering Sunday.
The reserves are picked by the coaches, who usually favor team success; but with Siakam getting the nod over Porter, win-loss record wasn’t the whole story.
On a rebuilding Nets team with five rookies, Porter has had to play a different role and face different challenges in this career-best year.
“Now I’m the leader on the team, and I’m helping to lead young guys, 19-, 20-, 21-year-olds and teach them about winning, winning habits, winning culture, a lot that I learned from my time in Denver,” Porter said Thursday. “Now I’m going to be able to share that with young guys, young talented players who will be in the NBA longer than I will. So that’s pretty cool, I think.”
Porter could conceivably still be named to the All-Star Game as an injury replacement for Giannis Antetokounmpo, who was voted in as a starter.
Michael Porter Jr. (17) dribbles during the Nets’ Jan. 21 loss to the Knicks. Charles Wenzelberg
“Just look at what we look like when he’s on the court vs. when he’s not on the court,” Nic Claxton added recently. “He does so much: He creates so many opportunities for himself, for teammates. His averages are off the charts. So he definitely should be an All-Star.”
Porter missed his second straight game Sunday in Detroit, but unlike Antetokounmpo, he wasn’t hurt.
He was out for personal reasons.
But with Porter having his name bandied about in various trade rumors — and the trade deadline Thursday at 3 p.m. — this did not signify his exit.
His grandmother recently passed away, and after playing Thursday against the Nuggets, Porter missed the games Friday in Utah and Sunday in Detroit.
Porter — who’d been dealing with a sore knee — bounced back from a season-low nine points on 3-for-11 shooting in the Jan. 25 loss at the Clippers to start this five-game road trek with his two best performances as a Net.
The veteran forward had 36 points last Tuesday in Phoenix on 6-for-10 shooting from 3-point range.
Then Porter followed up with 38 points — one shy of his career high — on 7-for-15 from deep in Thursday’s return to Denver.
It remains to be seen if Porter rejoins the Nets for Tuesday night’s game against the visiting Lakers at Barclays Center.
It’s also unclear if he’ll be an injury replacement for Antetokounmpo on Feb. 15, or if he’ll even be in Brooklyn past Thursday.
But more and more, league executives expect Porter to be a Net.
Now, will the league see fit to make him an All-Star?
PORTLAND, OREGON - FEBRUARY 01: Jarrett Allen #31 is doused with water by teammate Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers after the game against the Portland Trail Blazers at Moda Center on February 01, 2026 in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Soobum Im/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Cleveland Cavaliers are back in the win column. They knocked down the Portland Trail Blazers behind a monster game from Jarrett Allen.
All grades are based on our usual expectations for each player.
Donovan Mitchell
14 points, 9 assists, 0 rebounds, 2 steals
You rarely see a game flow away from the team’s best player. But Portland clearly didn’t want Mitchell to break free—and Mitchell had no interest in pressing the issue. He drew a crowd and let his teammates do the rest all night.
Grade: B+
Jarrett Allen
40 points, 17 rebounds, 5 assists, 4 blocks
This was the best game of Allen’s career. Even before he set a new career-high with 40 points, Allen was doing everything you could dream of. Rolling hard to the rim, catching and pirouetting for layups. Dream shaking his defenders out of their shoes. And all the while, cleaning the glass and blocking shots.
This is the type of performance that gets you a pass for the foreseeable future. Allen has to play a few stinkers before anyone can say anything bad about him again.
Oh, by the way, did I mention this stat line has never been recorded in under 30 minutes before?
Grade: A+++
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It would have been easy to miss Tyson tonight. A few of his teammates stole the show. But even though it was quiet, 18 points on 4-4 three-point shooting is the type of stuff I don’t want to take for granted.
Grade: A+
Sam Merrill
22 points, 4 assists, 2 rebounds
Merrill did his thing. His barrage of three-pointers gave Cleveland its biggest lead of the night, and he was great at using the space created by Mitchell to punish Portland’s defense.
Another solid showing from Cleveland’s third-string big. Nothing crazy, but a reliable presence.
Grade: B-
Dean Wade
6 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 3 steals
Wade was a team-high plus-32 tonight. Being a good defender who can hit a pair of triples goes a long way.
Grade: A-
Nae’Qwan Tomlin
12 points, 1 rebound, 1 steal
I appreciate that Tomlin has never backed away from a scuffle. Sometimes we can overstate the value of mental toughness. At the same time, being fearless is part of the job. It’s something you can’t fake. Tomlin has this in spades.
Grade: B–
Lonzo Ball
3 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists
Ball hit a three-pointer tonight. He was also a minus-10 in a game the Cavs won by 19 points.
Porter might record a 5×5 one day. That’s crazy for an undrafted 6’1” guard.
That said, he probably won’t get many opportunities once Darius Garland, Max Strus, Dennis Schroder, and Keon Ellis are available. So let’s give Craig his flowers now.
I’ve really enjoyed watching Porter dish the ball this season. He has serious limitations as a non-shooter, but man, can he get downhill and sling the rock.
