PHOENIX, AZ - FEBRUARY 7: Joel Embiid #21 and Kelly Oubre Jr. #9 of the Philadelphia 76ers high five after the game against the Phoenix Suns on February 7, 2026 at PHX Arena in Phoenix, Arizona. 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 2026 NBAE (Photo by Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
2025-26 Sixers Bell Ringer standings: Tyrese Maxey – 19 Joel Embiid – 8 VJ Edgecombe – 7 Paul George – 6 Dominick Barlow – 2 Andre Drummond – 2 Jared McCain :’( – 2 Adem Bona – 1 Justin Edwards – 1 Quentin Grimes – 1 Kelly Oubre Jr. – 1 Trendon Watford – 1 15th roster spot – 1
The Sixers are back in the win column after a 109-103 victory over the Phoenix Suns in the desert.
VJ Edgecombe, Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid all sported matching headbands for the contest, a rare occurrence, especially for the All-Star guard.
It was a very slow start to this one, as both teams struggled to find the bottom of the net. The Sixers began to pick their offense up in the second quarter, going on a huge run to garner a respectable lead heading into the halftime break.
Once again, they ran into the third quarter wall and the Suns began to pull closer. In the fourth, the Suns would pull to within five, but not enough to withstand the strong performances we saw from our Bell Ringer nominees.
His work in the first half took place mainly on the right baseline, finding different angles to drain midrange and fadeaway jumpers. The broadcast revealed his parents were courtside in seats near that baseline, as he pointed to them after the buckets. His speed and decision making were on full display, while mixing in effective ball-handling to open up easy drive opportunities.
Maxey with the slick finish and the Sixers take an 81-71 lead into the final frame pic.twitter.com/oOtkA7eWrC
His playmaking continues to be a plus during a tough shooting stretch from deep. He had multiple outlet passes against the Suns that led to very easy buckets in transition.
In the fourth he hit a huge step back three, his second of the game, to bury the Suns and force them to resort to fouling.
Embiid was a dominant force from the midrange. The Suns decided to not double team him, and lived with the consequences of either a made shot or foul committed. His persistence in his approach got into the Suns heads quickly, leading to a chatter-filled second half.
As long as the Suns kept manning him up, he kept cooking and shooting over whoever was guarding him. He would also add a flurry of threes into his offensive attack, including a big one in the fourth quarter to help extend the Sixers lead back into double digits.
Oubre Jr. was a much needed third option offensively as VJ Edgecombe had gotten into foul trouble early. He kicked off scoring with a three and helped pick the Sixers scoring up in the second with this highlight dunk:
His defensive presence kept the Sixers in phase with the riled up Suns, still finding composure when they needed it most. After a Suns run in the third, Oubre finished a silky lefty layup to help stem the tide. His play today can make fans feel more comfortable during Paul George’s suspension — though he did have a couple silly fouls late.
Watford, along with Oubre, played the glue-guy positions to a tee. Where Oubre was focused on shooting, Watford’s impact was his playmaking. He found multiple shooters after drives, and had a creative possession after setting a screen for Embiid on the elbow. Worth a watch if you missed the game, as more offense like this could be on the horizon.
His energy in the fourth quarter was crucial in keeping the Sixers ahead through relentless defense from the Suns, making multiple plays in a row with the ball in his hand.
CHENNAI, India (AP) — New Zealand avenged its loss to Afghanistan two years ago with a thumping five-wicket win at the T20 World Cup on Sunday.
In what is expected to shape up as the toughest group in the tournament with 2024 finalist South Africa also in Group D, New Zealand cruised to 183-5 – its highest ever chase at the T20 World Cup – with two overs to spare.
Gulbadin Naib, batting at No. 3 for the first time in T20s since the 2024 World Cup when Afghanistan knocked out the Black Caps from the race to the semis with an 84-run win at Guyana, smashed 63 off 35 balls as Afghanistan posted 182-6 after winning the toss.
But opening batter Tim Seifert (65) raised his maiden T20 World Cup half-century to overcome Mujeeb Ur Rahman’s twin strike that had rattled New Zealand to 2-14 inside the first two overs.
Mujeeb clean bowled Finn Allen and Rachin Ravindra off successive balls before Glenn Phillips (42) dealt with the hat-trick ball and then put the chase back on track by putting on an aggressive 74-run partnership with Seifert.
Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan (1-36) also couldn’t stem the flow of runs as New Zealand continued to accelerate in the middle overs against the experienced leg-spinner.
Rashid broke the stand in the 10th over when Phillips exposed his stumps against Rashid’s full-pitched ball and dragged it back onto his stumps. Then Rashid couldn’t hold onto a sharp return catch from Seifert before the opener had reached his half-century.
Seifert completed his fifty in style by smacking off-spinner Mohammad Nabi for two successive sixes and followed it with a boundary before he was caught at deep square leg.
Mark Chapman (28 off 17 balls) and Daryl Mitchell (25 not out) then accelerated to get Black Caps home in the team's first game of the tournament.
Earlier, Naib struck four sixes and three boundaries and laid a platform for Afghanistan’s strong finish with a 79-run partnership with Sediqullah Atal (29).
Express bowler Lockie Ferguson (2-40) had struck twice when he was introduced in the last over of the power play and removed both openers, Rahmanullah Gurbaz (27) and Ibrahim Zadran (10).
Naib took his time, scoring 14 off 16 balls but needed only another 13 deliveries to raise his half-century as New Zealand struggled with its fifth bowler. James Neesham conceded 33 off his three overs while part-time spinners Phillips and Ravindra gave away 26 off their two overs.
Later on Sunday
England won the toss and elected to bat in its opening Group C match against Nepal at Mumbai while later Sunday co-host Sri Lanka is scheduled to meet Ireland in a Group B game at Colombo.
SACRAMENTO, CA - FEBRUARY 7: James Harden #1 of the Cleveland Cavaliers drives to the basket during the game against the Sacramento Kings on February 7, 2026 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. 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 2026 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
It wasn’t always pretty, but the Cleveland Cavaliers executed well enough down the stretch to win James Harden’s debut with the team. They defeated the hapless Sacramento Kings 132-126.
The Cavaliers’ starting lineup was understandably disjointed at the start of the game. Their four-guard unit featuring Harden, Donovan Mitchell, Sam Merrill, Jaylon Tyson, and Jarrett Allen struggled to clear the defensive glass or stay in front of their man on that end. Sacramento took advantage by getting off to a hot start offensively.
On the other end, Mitchell and Harden seemed unsure of who should be in control on offense. Both seemed like they didn’t want to step on the other’s toes, which led to a somewhat stagnant offensive attack.
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Sacramento pushed its lead to double figures in the middle of the first quarter, before the Cavs got back into the game with bench lineups featuring one of either Mitchell or Harden on the court.
The Cavs took a narrow two-point lead into the break, but then gave it all away at the start of the third quarter, leading to the Kings regaining their double-digit advantage.
Mitchell took over from there. His 12 third-quarter points helped keep the Cavs within reach heading into the fourth.
It seemed like things were getting away from the Cavs again after a back-and-forth start to the fourth. The Kings grabbed a seven-point lead with just under four minutes left in the game, before the Cavs roared back.
Two points from Allen and back-to-back threes from Harden gave the Cavs a one-point lead with just over two minutes left.
The Kings didn’t go away. DeMar DeRozan hit a big three to tie the game with just over 42 seconds left.
Mitchell then forced a foul on the following possession and hit both free throws to give the Cavs the lead again. The Kings missed their final three shots, allowing the Cavs to come away with the victory.
For as awkward as the Mitchell and Harden fit was in the first three quarters, they looked good together down the stretch. The duo combined for 32 of the team’s 39 points in the final frame to pull out the victory.
It wasn’t necessarily the prettiest debut for Harden, despite the solid box score numbers. It took him a while to get going offensively, and he seemed lost at times with the defensive rotations.
That said, you could see how Harden can help this team, particularly down the stretch. His ability to get Allen easy looks and the gravity he possesses offensively are going to be incredibly useful. Harden played his best in the fourth quarter, pouring in 15 points, with the game on the line.
On the night, Harden provided 23 points on 7-13 shooting, which included going 5-8 from three, to go along with eight assists and two rebounds.
Mitchell carried the Cavs to the finish line. He scored 17 of his 35 points in the fourth quarter and was the best player on the court.
Allen also had a strong showing. He provided 29 points on 11-12 shooting with 10 rebounds.
The Kings were led by 30 points on 12-19 shooting from Nique Clifford. Westbrook supplied 21 points and nine assists.
The Cavaliers have now won three-straight games and eight of their last nine. This includes going 3-1 so far on their Western Conference road trip.
The Cavs will take on the Denver Nuggets on Monday for their last game of this road trip. Tip-off is at 9 PM.
Golden State Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. spoke Saturday for the first time since the NBA trade deadline, when the franchise tried to go all-in on acquiring Giannis Antetokounmpo before the Milwaukee Bucks pulled the plug on dealing their superstar.
Dunleavy denied that the team’s pursuit of Antetokounmpo prevented them from making other deals, adding that he was excited about the Warriors’ pivot to acquire Kristaps Porzingis in a trade that sent Jonathan Kuminga and Buddy Hield to Atlanta.
Porzingis has only played in 17 games this season after being diagnosed with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), as well as recently suffering left Achilles tendinitis. But Porzingis is expected to make his Warriors’ debut after the All-Star break and Dunleavy is optimistic that he can stay healthy.
In his first media session since the NBA trade deadline, Warriors GM Mike Dunleavy Jr. trade talks with Milwaukee. Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images
“We feel good about it,” Dunleavy said. “We looked into it pretty in depth. We believe in our medical staff. There’s no guarantees, there’s no certainty. But with where he’s at right now, where he’s been, we feel good about it.”
He added that taking a gamble on Porzingis was worth it.
“On the other end of it, in terms of what we’re sending out, we’re sending out a player in a similar boat who struggled to stay on the floor,” he said, referring to Kuminga. “From our standpoint, we recognize the risk medically, but it’s a risk we’re willing to take.”
In addition to the Warriors not getting Antetokounmpo, whom they were hoping could extend Steph Curry’s championship window, the biggest fallout of the trade deadline was Draymond Green being involved in trade talks for the Bucks’ superstar.
Dunleavy staunchly denied Green was on the trading block.
Dunleavy said picking up Kristaps Prozingis is worth the risk, even with the star’s injury history. NBAE via Getty Images
“His name was not in conversations, other than the ones where teams called me and asked about him, which they do every year,” he said. “So, nothing’s new there. The idea that he stayed with the Warriors past the deadline was greatly exaggerated. It was never a possibility of him not being here or remotely close, to be honest. I’ve conveyed that to him. I think he knows that. But when stuff comes up in the media, it feels different for the players. And I think that’s the first time it happened for Draymond, so he’s dealing with it in a certain way.
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“But the reality is nothing was close. And nothing was considered. Draymond was not being shopped or talked about in deals, so it’s a little misleading and we’re kinda picking up the pieces here. But I think he’s in a great spot and so are we moving forward.”
Green, however, made it clear on his podcast Saturday morning that he had a different understanding of the situation. Green said that when he and Dunleavy chatted ahead of the deadline, Dunleavy told him, “Obviously, if we were going to do a deal with Giannis you or Jimmy would have to be traded just to make it work.”
Golden State had been engaged in talks with the Bucks for superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo. NBAE via Getty Images
“What it said to me in that moment was there’s a chance I may get traded for Giannis because he didn’t rule it out,” Green said on “The Draymond Green Show.” “He didn’t say we’re not putting you in the deal. So, I took that as, all right, it’ll probably be me.”
As for Dunleavy, when asked if Green wasn’t involved in a potential deal if that meant they were aiming to trade Butler, he balked. “No, no, no we’re not doing that,” he said. “I’m not going down the roster talking about who’s in trades and who’s not.”
The Warriors are now looking toward the summer to make a splashy move.
“We’re willing to do whatever it takes to improve this team, whether it’s young players, first-round picks,” Dunleavy said. “We always have been, we always will be, as long as we’re in this win-now window.
When asked what the expectations are for the Warriors this season, considering Butler is out after suffering a torn ACL on Jan. 19 and Porzingis’ health is a bit of a wild card, Dunleavy acknowledged he was unsure.
“I’m interested to see how it goes,” he said. “I think this addition for us could be really good, similar to the addition of Jimmy, how he gave us a boost. I think this is similar. Maybe not to that level, we certainly took off. I’m not sure on our expectations just because we have to get healthy.”
The Warriors are still aiming to be in the Antetokounmpo sweepstakes over the summer, joining a long list of teams that are hoping to add him to their roster.
Either way, looking forward, Dunleavy made it clear that the Warriors are willing to take a big swing to give Curry a chance to win a fifth ring, if the right trade comes along.
CHICAGO (AP) — Nikola Jokic got another game ball from his Denver Nuggets teammates after yet another triple-double. This one, though, was a bit more special than the others.
It made some NBA history.
Jokic had 22 points, 17 assists and 14 rebounds to pass Oscar Robertson for No. 2 on the league's career list with his 182nd regular-season triple-doubles, leading the Nuggets to a 136-120 victory over the Chicago Bulls on Saturday night.
“He is a legendary player,” Jokic said of Robertson, who was the first player to average a triple-double in a full season in 1961-62. “Any player who steps into this league knows he’s a global legend.”
The three-time NBA MVP and eight-time All-Star is making his own mark on the game, too. The triple-double was Jokic's 19th this season and second in as many games. He trails only Russell Westbrook, who has 207, on the career list. Westbrook (four), Jokic (two) and Robertson (one) are the only NBA players to average triple-doubles in a season.
Nuggets coach David Adelman, who had been with the organization since Jokic's third season in 2017, said he still catches himself being amazed by the 6-foot-11 Serbian center.
“When your center gets 17 assists in a game — that just doesn’t happen,” Adelman said. “Unless it’s him.
“It’s absolutely unbelievable what he’s done.”
Teammate Jamal Murray said he expects even more from Jokic, who’ll turn 31 on Feb. 19.
“He’s got a lot of that left,” he said. “It’s going to be a Usain Bolt record when he sets it. He’s going to have that for a long time.”
At Thursday’s trade deadline, most of the attention in Brooklyn was around Cam Thomas being waived and Michael Porter Jr. being kept.
But now in the aftermath, it’ll be on Josh Minott and Ochai Agbaji being added — and how the under-the-radar pair can fit into the rebuild of the Nets, who beat the Wizards 127-113 at Barclays Center on Saturday.
“We know they’re very good players. That’s why they’re here,” coach Jordi Fernández said. “Show me what you can bring to the group, and if you can be part of this group, you can be a future Net.
New Net Josh Minott is all smile during warmups. He did not play in Brooklyn’s 127-113 win over the Wizards on Feb. 7, 2026 at Barclays Center. NBAE via Getty Images
“Ball pressure is our first staple. Every time you can apply ball pressure — full-court or half-court — you can create turnovers and deflections and make the other team uncomfortable late in the clock. We believe those guys can do that, and I’m excited to watch them play.”
Both newcomers were available Saturday vs. Washington, though neither saw action.
Brooklyn actually had a clean injury report with every roster player except the two-ways available.
The Wizards suiting up just eight sent the tank-happy Nets fans into a fervor.
Nevertheless, on a young Nets team trying to build around youth and disruption, there are opportunities for both Minott and Agbaji to carve out roles.
“For me it’s about staying true to the values I’ve learned over my 3 ½ years in the league, especially the work ethic,” said Minott, still just 23. “I’ve been around some winning organizations. Understanding what we did right and what it takes to make those playoff pushes, it’s about bringing that over.
“Defensively, I line up with the core values here, pressure and being disruptive. My shooting has come a long way too. I can confidently say that’s a strength and I believe in taking the right, open shots.”
League observers who spoke with The Post particularly cited the move for Minott, 6-foot-8, 212 pounds, as shrewd.
The Nets are hoping Ochai Agbaji, formerly with the Raptors, can become a key piece in their rebuild. NBAE via Getty Images
A second-round pick by Minnesota, he was acquired by Boston and promptly won a starting spot with his energy, defense and athleticism.
He averaged 10.4 points, 8.1 rebounds and 1.4 steals in a seven-game stretch earlier this season.
But Minott hit a slump before suffering a severe ankle injury that sidelined him for five weeks.
He lost playing time to Hugo González, Jordan Walsh and Baylor Scheierman, and with Boston facing both a roster and cap crunch, the Nets squeezed them for Minott, sending no picks or players and just the minimum cash required to make a deal official ($110,000, per sources).
With Noah Clowney, Ziaire Williams and Danny Wolf all having their various struggles, there is opportunity for Minott.
Now in Brooklyn, he plans to bring the same fire that earned him early playing time this season in Boston.
“It was the hunger I was playing with. That’s something I’m definitely bringing here, the hunger and desperation,” said Minott. “I know this organization values that mindset of disruption. I saw we’re near the top of the league in pickup points, so it’s not just talk. I’m bringing that drive and determination.”
Agbaji, 25, arrives with more experience, first with Utah and then Toronto.
The off guard arrives managing just 4.3 points and 2.3 rebounds on 42/19/86 shooting splits, having backslid badly from a career year a season ago when he averaged 10.4 points and 3.8 boards on 50/40/71.
“For me it’s about getting back to myself and who I know I can be,” Agbaji said. “That’s super important in this league and it’s what I work for and what I’m trying to show again.
“First, my defense and the intensity I play with every single night. I’m always trying to win every possession. That’s who I am as a player. I know I have a lot more to show. I had a great season last year and I’m trying to build on that. My time in Toronto was great, but I’m looking forward to what I can do here.”
Agbaji played at Kansas alongside Jalen Wilson, winning an NCAA title.
“I hosted him on his recruiting visit. I’ve known him a long time and seen him grow,” said Agbaji. “Ending up teammates with him again is great. It makes this feel even more like home.”
LOS ANGELES, CA – APRIL 3: Draymond Green #23 of the Golden State Warriors and LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers look on during the game on April...
LOS ANGELES — With Luka Doncic and Steph Curry, two of the NBA’s greatest offensive players, sidelined, it shouldn’t have been a surprise for Saturday night’s marquee matchup between the Lakers and Warriors to turn into a rock fight.
But that’s exactly what came to fruition, with both teams struggling early to find any kind of offensive rhythm, and it feeling like the first team that did would be the one to leave Crypto.com Arena with the victory.
And after a LeBron James-led offensive push in the third quarter, the Lakers were that team, leading to the Lakers beating the Warriors 105-99 to continue their strong homestand.
A LeBron James led third quarter offensive splash led to the Lakers beating the Warriors 105-99. NBAE via Getty Images
James, who finished with 20-point, 10-assist double-double to go with seven rebounds, had 12 points and three assists in the game-deciding third, a quarter the Lakers won 38-29.
The Lakers scored nearly as many points in the third as they did in the first half (42), shooting 63.2% in the game-deciding quarter.
With Doncic sidelined and starting center Deandre Ayton being a late scratch because of right knee soreness, Rui Hachimura stepped back into the first unit, scoring 18 points off the bench.
Austin Reaves added 16 points, eight assists and five rebounds, while Marcus Smart recorded 15 points, four assists and two blocked shots.
Jarred Vanderbilt (13 points, eight rebounds) was a game-changer off the bench with his energetic play.
Austin Reaves added 16 points, eight assists and five rebounds. NBAE via Getty Images
What it means
The Lakers won three consecutive games for just the second time since the end of November, and first time in a month.
They improved to 32-19 on the season, the same record as the Houston Rockets, who are No. 4 in the Western Conference standings.
Turning point
When Luke Kennard, in his Lakers debut after the team acquired him ahead of Thursday’s trade deadline, knocked down a corner 3-pointer with 5:47 left to give the Lakers a 92-88 lead.
The Warriors cut their deficit from 12 late in the third to one midway through the fourth after a layup from Gary Payton II.
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But Kennard’s second 3-pointer of the game put the Lakers up by four, with the Lakers leading by at least that margin for the remainder of the game.
An underrated turning point was when Draymond Green received a technical foul during halftime, with the Warriors leading 42-41.
Reaves knocked down the free throw coming out of halftime, tying the game at 42 apiece before the second half officially started. The Warriors didn’t lead for the remainder of the game.
MVP: LeBron James
Even though he didn’t shoot efficiently from the field (6 of 17), and once again struggled with taking care of the ball (seven turnovers), James’ play in the third led the Lakers in what was a game-deciding stretch.
Saturday was James’ second consecutive points-assists double-double.
Stat of the game: 17
That’s how many more free throws the Lakers made than the Warriors, also attempting 19 more shots from the charity stripe.
Smart led the Lakers with 8-of-9 shooting on free throws. James and Reaves both went 6 of 7 from the line.
Up next
The Lakers will continue their lengthy homestand with a matchup against the league-best Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday.
The Thunder (40-13) have lost two straight games and are 16-11 since Dec. 18. Reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will be sidelined through the All-Star break because of a strained abdominal muscle, while All-NBA wing Jalen Williams hasn’t played since Jan. 17 because of a strained right hamstring.
Monday will be the first night of a home back-to-back, with the Lakers hosting the San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday night.
BOULDER, Colo. (AP) — Barrington Hargress had 23 points, Sebastian Rancik came off the bench to post a double-double and Colorado beat Arizona State 78-70 on Saturday night.
Hargress made 10 of 15 shots with a 3-pointer for the Buffaloes (14-10, 4-7 Big 12 Conference), who finished off a season sweep of the Sun Devils (12-12, 3-8). Rancik, a 6-foot-11 sophomore, totaled 17 points and a career-high 11 rebounds for his first double-double. Isaiah Johnson had 16 points and Bangot Dak scored 10.
Moe Odum finished with 23 points and five assists for Colorado. Massamba Diop totaled 19 points and seven rebounds, while reserve Anthony “Pig” Johnson scored 14.
Rancik buried a 3-pointer and Dak followed with a fast-break dunk to give Colorado a 26-16 lead. Rancik hit another 3 for a 12-point lead, but the Buffaloes went scoreless over the final two minutes while Odum made two free throws and Johnson scored off his steal to cut it to 39-31 at intermission.
A halftime review by the referees led to a flagrant-1 foul on Elijah Malone for his foul on Odum, giving the Sun Devils two free throws and the ball to start the second half.
Allen Mukeba had a three-point play and Odum hit a jumper to polish off an 11-2 run in the first three minutes to give the Sun Devils a 42-41 lead.
Colorado took a 64-56 lead on a Rancik layup with 8:48 remaining. Diop had two dunks as Arizona State scored the next six points, but Dak hit a jumper and Rancik sank a 3 as the Buffs stayed in front over the final 5:28.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 07: Dillon Brooks #3 of the Phoenix Suns drives to the basket against Tyrese Maxey #0 of the Philadelphia 76ers during the first half at Mortgage Matchup Center on February 07, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. 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 Chris Coduto/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Suns welcomed Devin Booker and Jalen Green back on Saturday night, but the return came with a thud. The shooting never showed up. Phoenix finished 11-of-46 from beyond the arc, good for 23.9%, and that hole proved too deep to fully climb out of, losing 109-103. To their credit, they kept pushing. The Suns made a late run and trimmed it to a four point game with under a minute to play after trailing by as many as 19. The effort was there. The shot making was not.
Nights like this leave a messy box score. Collin Gillespie went 2-of-10 from deep. Dillon Brooks matched that. In his first game back, Booker looked rusty, finishing 1-of-7 from three. The rhythm never fully arrived.
On the other end, Joel Embiid dictated everything. He poured in 33 points, grabbed nine rebounds, and even stepped out to go 4-of-7 from beyond the arc. There was no slowing him down.
The loss makes it two straight for Phoenix. They remain planted in seventh in the Western Conference, even with teams above them dropping games. The record now sits at 1-3 in February and 0-3 at home this month. Getting bodies back helps. Making shots still matters more.
Game Flow
First Half
It was a cold start for Devin Booker in his return. He missed his first three shots, all from beyond the arc. His first points in two weeks came at the free throw line, as Jalen Green checked in with 6:29 left in the first. Booker went 1-of-2, and the Suns found themselves down 14-10.
Joel Embiid, a game-time decision himself, came out firing. He knocked down a pair of early threes, which stood out considering he is a 30% shooter from deep this season.
Collin Gillespie opened the Suns’ scoring with a three. After that, it was rough. Phoenix missed its next 12 attempts from beyond the arc and finished the quarter 1-of-13 from three. Still, Green’s entry with the second unit brought life. He looked healthy. He looked aggressive. He led the team with six points in the quarter and gave the offense some needed juice.
Philadelphia struggled too. The 76ers shot 8-of-23 in the quarter, with five of those makes coming from three. So despite the Suns’ shooting woes, they stayed within striking distance and trailed only 24-22 after one.
The second unit of Gillespie, Goodwin, Bouyea, Dunn, and Ighodaro opened the second quarter by giving up a 9-4 run. Missed shots piled up. Turnovers followed. And Philadelphia cashed those mistakes into easy points at the rim.
The deficit quickly stretched to 14 as the Suns continued to come up empty on every three-pointer they took. Long misses turned into long rebounds. Long rebounds turned into transition chances. Same sequence. Over and over.
Suns have started 1-of-18 from downtown as they trail by 14 in the second quarter
The brutal three point shooting clearly got into Phoenix’s head. You could see it. Open looks were there, and instead of letting it fly, they hesitated. Pump fakes. Extra dribbles. Possessions stretched longer than they needed to. And the shots that followed were worse than the ones they passed up.
With 5:19 left in the second quarter, and down 16, Dillon Brooks hit the Suns second made three-pointer of the game, making the deficit 44–31. So Phoenix started 1-of-19 (5.2%) from deep to start the game.
The patented Embiid-foul baiting then began as he generated contact on everyone who defended him and hit the whistle every time. Turned his body into Brooks? Foul. Jumped into Devin Booker? Foul. Embiid ended the half with 17 points, going 3-of-5 from deep and 6-of-8 from the line. His 8 free throw attempts in the second was 6 more than Phoenix attempted.
Man you should have to donate half your paycheck to charity if you willingly choose to watch Embiid hoops on a nightly basis
The Suns ended the half having made just 4 of their 25 three-point attempts, and that was primarily the story. Both teams had 20 points in the paint, and although the rebounding edge favored Philly 29-21, both teams had 7 second-chance points. The 76ers were +9 in points generated from deep and +2 at the line. And that’s what the Suns trailed by at the half. 11 points, 58-47.
Second Half
So how did the Suns respond coming out of halftime. Not well. They immediately surrendered an 8-0 run and the deficit jumped to 19. Joel Embiid stayed in control, scoring 7 quick points as the team was running everything through him.
Start of that third quarter was as flat as anything, especially defensively. The switching on screen, rolls, and rotations just haven't been there.
With a team like the 76ers running as many PNRs as they do, those rotations have to be on point.
Midway through the third, Phoenix finally found a pulse. They ripped off a 10-2 run, leaning into their usual aggressive style. Pressure picked up. Bodies flew around. The game started to feel uncomfortable again.
Things got chippy fast. Dillon Brooks took the Joel Embiid assignment despite already sitting on three fouls, and he did not back down. The physicality escalated. Former Sun Kelly Oubre Jr. got involved as well, jawing with Brooks as the temperature of the game rose.
Villain vs. Valley Boy is what we all enjoy to see
You do not see this often, but the defensive pressure from Phoenix forced a pair of over and back violations in the third. That intensity showed up in other areas too. The Suns did a solid job crashing the glass and creating extra chances. The problem was finishing them.
In the third quarter, Phoenix grabbed five offensive rebounds and turned those into two second chance points. The effort was there. The payoff was not.
By the end of the quarter, the Suns had outscored Philadelphia 24-23. The defensive edge had clearly ramped up. Still, the shooting lagged behind. They went 2-of-10 from deep in the frame, and that continued to weigh everything down.
After three, Phoenix trailed 81-71.
Philly popped another run to start the fourth because, surprise surprise, the Suns shooting was nowhere to be found. Even with Embiid getting a rest, the 76ers expanded their lead as the Suns were chucking bricks.
Once again, however, midway through the quarter, the Suns put together a run to get it to a 9-point deficit. But the moment they did that, Embiid banked in a timely three-pointer.
Down 12, Royce O’Neale was whistled for an and one that Jordan Ott immediately challenged. He won it. Instead of the deficit growing with a free throw coming, the Suns stayed down 10. A small win. A needed one.
And then, almost on cue, Philadelphia buried a three on an inbounds play with one second left on the shot clock. But after review, it was determined Watford didn’t get it off in time.
With 1:31, the Suns got it down to a 6 point game, and after a missed shot by Embiid, Devin Booker was sent to the line with 1:04 left. He knocked them both down, and the Suns trailed by 4.
Tyrese Maxey hit a dagger three in the face of Oso, but Booker was fouled on a three-pointer headed the other way with 41 seconds left. He canned those as well.
The Suns had an impressive defensive possession the next time down, but with 0.7 seconds left in the shot clock, Devin Booker fouled Tyrese Maxey on a three. Maxey hit them all. Booker was quickly fouled by Oubre on another three, and Booker hit all of those. So once again, a 4 point game. A Gillespie foul, two made free throws by Maxey, a turnover on the in bounds pass and it was over.
Up Next
Phoenix hosts the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday, before hosting the Thunder the next night (seriously, what is up with the level of opponent the Suns have to face on the second night of back-to-backs this season?!), which is their final game prior to the All-Star break.
PHOENIX, AZ - FEBRUARY 7: Kelly Oubre Jr. #9 of the Philadelphia 76ers dunks the ball during the game against the Phoenix Suns on February 7, 2026 at PHX Arena in Phoenix, Arizona. 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 2026 NBAE (Photo by Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
That’s a pretty important lead to hold on to and bounce back.
The Sixers hung on this time, defeating the Phoenix Suns 109-103 Saturday night.
Joel Embiid led the way again with 33 points and nine rebounds going 9-of-19 from the floor. Tyrese Maxey, off a couple scoring bursts, put up 29 points and six assists shooting 8-of-21 from the field.
Kelly Oubre Jr. put up a much-needed 18 points on 6-of-14 shooting and got away with some shaky fouls late.VJ Edgecombe had a quiet scoring night putting up five points on four shots along with six rebounds and two assists while Dillon Brooks led the Suns with 28.
Here are some thoughts at the buzzer.
First Quarter
At some point we’ll have to figure out Embiid’s stats over his career in games he’s sported a headband. Both he and Maxey joined Edgecombe in donning one for this night. Embiid knocked down his first three jumpers — two from behind the arc as he’s slowly resurrecting his three-point percentage on the season.
He was the only one on the court in a rhythm early with both teams dropping below 40% from the field. The rest of the Sixers opened the game 4-of-13 from the floor. Maxey missed his first three attempts, some quite badly, before burying a wide open corner three with a lot of time to spare.
Their only points after that came from another Maxey three, this time of the stepback variety. It was still enough to keep the Sixers ahead by two after the first, despite the Suns getting some clean looks from deep. They made only one of their 13 attempts.
Pretty step-back from Tyrese and the Sixers take a 24-22 lead into the second pic.twitter.com/8O9jsoiF4H
It’s funny that as of late Quentin Grimes’ two finishing packages have been absolutely yamming on people or finger-rolling every layup, but both have been working for him well as of late. A few minutes into the quarter it was Oubre who slammed over somebody, timing the bounce perfectly from a long Maxey pass.
The second unit, led by Maxey, continued to play good ball as a unit, going on an extended 17-2 run. They moved the ball well in the half court offense, but the way they continued to try to turn misses into fast breaks helped them control the pace of the game. With the Suns still not able to buy anything from the floor it gave them plenty of chances to do so.
After a couple of Sixers’ turnovers, Royce O’Neale and Jordan Goodwin seemed to finally open the lid for Phoenix from beyond the arc. Embiid settled things down with frequent trips to the line on the other end, getting the Suns quite frustrated when he put them in the bonus with three minutes left in the half. The Sixers couldn’t quite take full advantage — Embiid, Grimes and Dominick Barlow all missed one late in the half, keeping the lead at 11 at the break.
Third Quarter
It was one of those quiet nights for Edgecombe with the other two going and the rookie being in foul trouble, but he opened a very good start to the half with a three off the catch. Oubre piled on with a couple baskets off the catch while Embiid finished another layup through contact.
Embiid had another brief heater from the midrange, keeping the Suns at arms’ length as Brooks and Devin Booker both began to shake off slow starts. It was Booker who was more irritated to start the quarter, but Brooks got increasingly irritated as the Sixers got him in foul trouble. That plus taking a hard shove from Oubre on a screen had him chirping nonstop with Oubre and Embiid.
Around him there were things to clean up — two backcourt violations and three offensive rebounds gave Phoenix plenty of cracks at it, but they still couldn’t get above 40% from the field. A Maxey layup kept the Sixers lead at 10 after three.
Fourth Quarter
Fittingly, it was two minutes before either team made a field goal to start the fourth, but the midrange jumper from the baseline was proving to be Maxey’s reliable shot for the night. Trendon Watford showed the makings of a solid offensive night, getting himself to the line before helping Adem Bona get wide open in the dunker spot for an easy bucket.
It was truly a rollercoaster — not only did Watford turn it over a couple of times, but they were offensive fouls, making him the third Sixer of the night to pick up at least four fouls. He had an and-1 taken away by a challenge. A few possession later he appeared to drill a three from the parking lot, but replay review showed that it did not actually beat the shot clock. He was at least able to come out of the timeout and hit a floater.
Embiid again took the reins and got himself some baskets from the nail, but the Suns kept coming up with a three-point answer to stay alive. After O’Neale buried one from deep, Booker hit his first of the night. An and-1 from Brooks quickly sped up the Sixers’ math problem.
Another stepback three from Maxey is just what the Sixers needed. In a comedy of errors, Booker and Maxey proceeded to get fouled shooting threes on three straight possessions, keeping the lead just four with 17 seconds remaining. Oubre was the offender both times for the Sixers. The Suns had to put Maxey on the line again, and throwing the ensuing inbounds pass out of bounds was enough to put an ugly win to bed.
Feb 7, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward Jarred Vanderbilt (2) moves to the basket ahead of Golden State Warriors guard Pat Spencer (61) during the first half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images | Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
With both teams missing stars, the Lakers controlled much of the second half of Saturday’s game against the Warriors, earning a 105-99 win.
Luka Dončić and Steph Curry each missed the game due to injury while Austin Reaves remained under a minutes restriction. As a result, a host of unlikely suspects stepped up for both teams.
After a back-and-forth first half saw both teams lead, the Lakers surged out of the gate in the second half and built up multiple double-digit leads. A feisty Golden State team kept making runs but LA had a response each time.
Turnovers were an issue once again for the purple and gold as they finished with 22, but the Warriors went 14-51 from the 3-point line, which offset things.
LA started hot from behind the arc, knocking down two 3-pointers early. They built a four-point lead until the Warriors surged ahead by scoring six straight. LeBron tied the game on a layup. Golden State retook the lead in response.
Newest Laker Luke Kennard checked in for his first minutes and drained his first attempt from behind the arc.
At the 2:23 mark, the Warriors were up by two. Gary Payton II was playing well for Golden State with seven points. Rui Hachimura led Los Angeles with five points. At the end of the first, the purple and gold were down by one.
Luka Dončić typically drives LA's offense early in games, and with him out tonight, the Lakers were out of rhythm, scoring only 20 points on 7 of 17 FG's, with 6 turnovers. They did hold GSW to 21 points on only 9 of 25 FG's (2 of 17 from 3).
The second period started with Jake LaRavia converting on a layup, putting the Lakers back in the lead. Both teams were struggling to find consistent offense. LA was shooting 41% from the field, while the Warriors were shooting 35%. Neither team had a player in double figures, with Payton II being the closest with nine points.
At the 6:46 mark, Los Angeles was ahead by two.
Turnovers were becoming a big issue for the Lakers as they had 12. Hachimura entered double figures with 10 points after scoring five points. The Warriors started to heat up from behind the arc to find some offense.
The Warriors are often sending a second defender towards Austin Reaves, and he's responded with 7 first half assists in 11 minutes thus far.
At halftime, LA was down by one after Pat Spencer drained a shot at the buzzer.
The second half started with Austin Reaves knocking down a free throw after Draymond Green received a technical foul at the end of the first half. LeBron then scored six straight, putting Los Angeles ahead. LeBron continued his early third-period dominance, converting on his second three-point play of the quarter.
LA built a nine-point advantage, its biggest lead of the night.
Golden State responded with five straight, making it a close affair again. The Lakers regained control, pushing their lead to 11. Jarred Vanderbilt was having a strong game off the bench with 10 points and two steals.
The Lakers had built a 12-point lead before the Warriors scored seven straight. LA struggled to defend Moses Moody, who was up to 20 points and was shooting 40% from behind the arc.
Going into the fourth period, the purple and gold were up by eight. Los Angeles only had two turnovers in the quarter.
Third quarter: Lakers 79, Warriors 71
LA outscored GS 38-29 — nearly matching their first-half point total in one quarter. LeBron James led the way, erupting for 12 of his 19 points through a combination of 3s and bully-ball. Jarred Vanderbilt has been awesome on both ends.
Jaxson Hayes started the final frame with a layup. Hachimura helped provide the Lakers with some cushion as the Warriors heated up, but five straight points from Golden State cut it to three. A triple from Gui Santos made it a one-point affair.
LA responded with a 7-0 run, which included Kennard draining another 3-pointer to restore the double-digit lead. Kleber added to the run with a layup, making it a 12-point game.
Moody once again drained a 3-pointer to take it back to single digits with 3:28 left in the game. Things got chippy, with hard fouls and players chirping back and forth.
A pair of late free throws from Reaves sealed the game as the Lakers iced the game away at the line, earning a third-straight win.
Key Player Stats
LeBron finished with 20 points, seven rebounds and 10 assists. Reaves ended with 16 points, five rebounds, eight assists and two steals. Hachimura scored 18 points, shooting 70% from the field.
Kennard’s first game as a Laker ended with 10 points on 4-7 shooting. Smart notched 15 points with four assists. Jarred Vanderbilt had 13 points with eight rebounds. Kleber had another impactful game off the bench with five points and seven rebounds while finishing with a team-best plus-minus of +12.
The Lakers’ next matchup will be against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday at 7:00 PM PT.You can follow Karin on Twitter at @KarinAbcarians.
CHICAGO (AP) — Nikola Jokic had 22 points, 17 assists and 14 rebounds for his second triple-double in as many games, Jamal Murray had 28 points and 11 assists and the Denver Nuggets ended a three-game skid with a 136-120 victory over the Chicago Bulls on Saturday night.
It was Jokic's 19th triple-double of the season. Tim Hardaway Jr. added 23 points for the Nuggets, who capped a three-game road trip with a win after losing at Detroit and New York.
Matas Buzelis scored 21 points and Collin Sexton added 17 for the Bulls, who have lost four straight.
The Bulls led 104-97 after closing the third period on a 16-2 run, but Denver started the final quarter on a 20-2 spurt to take the lead for good. Jokic and Julian Strawther capped the run with consecutive 3-pointers.
Chicago went the first six minutes of the fourth before making its first field goal and finished the final period 5 for 17 from the floor.
Jokic had nine points, 11 rebounds and seven assists in 17 first-half minutes, but the Bulls led 65-59 at the intermission.
New Lakers guard Luke Kennard hits three pointer under pressure from Warriors forward Gui Santos on Saturday at Crypto.com Arena. (Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times)
LeBron James had a near triple-double with 20 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds during the Lakers’ 105-99 win over the Golden State Warriors Saturday night at Crypto.com Arena.
During a game stars Luka Doncic (mild left hamstring strain) and Golden State’s Stephen Curry (knee injury) missed, the Lakers pulled off the win with six players scoring in double figures.
Austin Reaves had 16 points, eight assists and five rebounds and Rui Hachimura had 18 points on seven-for-10 shots.
Luke Kennard, who was acquired Thursday from the Atlanta Hawks for Gabe Vincent, played his role well. He had 10 points in his first game as a Laker, coming off the bench to go four-for-seven from the field and two-for-four from the three-point line. He also had two assists and two rebounds.
Lakers forward Jarred Vanderbilt battles Warriors guard Brandin Podziemski for a loose ball at Crypto.com Saturday. (Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times)
Kennard drilled a three-pointer off a pass from Reaves to give the Lakers a 92-88 lead in the fourth quarter.
After Reaves scored, Kennard showed off his passing skills, finding Jared Vanderbilt under the basket for a dunk. Maxi Kleber scored and Reaves made two free throws to help seal the Lakers' win.
Lakers call Doncic's injury mild
The Lakers said Doncic was diagnosed with a mild left hamstring strain and will be listed as day-to-day.
The Lakers play Oklahoma Monday night and San Antonio Tuesday night before playing the Dallas Mavericks Thursday night. The NBA All-Star game follows on Feb. 15 and the Lakers don’t play again until Feb. 20 against the Clippers at home.
So, Lakers coach JJ Redick and president of basketball operations and general manager Rob Pelinka both were asked Saturday night if Doncic would be able to play in the all-star game or if it would be best for him to rest.
"I've been around him as a teammate and as a coach and I know he [loves to] plays. If he's able to play, he plays. I think he wants to be in the all-star game,” Redick said. “I know he wants to play against Dallas, the game before the all-star game. He has his team working on him day and night. So again, it's day to day and when he's ready to play, we'll get him out there."
Doncic, who leads the NBA in scoring (32.8) and is second in assists (8.6), earned the most all-star game votes. In the new all-star game format of “U.S. vs. the World,” Doncic would play for the world team because he’s from Slovenia.
“Luka, one of his greatest qualities is when he has an injury or he's unavailable for a game, he is deeply upset,” Pelinka, who spoke to the media for the first time since September. “He just can't stand not playing basketball. He loves the game so much and wants to play every night. And that's an incredible quality. Just a player who's like fighting and clawing to play versus looking for a reason maybe not to. So we commend Luka for that. In terms of this injury, the good news is it doesn't appear to be anything serious. It was a mild hamstring strain and he is truly day to day."
Kennard makes immediate impact
Kennard didn’t waste any time making an impact for the Lakers during their game against the Warriors.
He drilled his first shot as a Laker, a high arching 25-foot three pointer with 2:23 left in the first quarter.
The shot was set up by Reaves, giving Kennard a glimpse of what life will be like playing with the Lakers’ big three of James, Doncic and Reaves.
“Those guys attract so much attention to other teams on the offensive end and for me, it’s just spacing the floor, making the right plays at all times and just being aggressive out there,” Kennard said before the game about his role. “Coming off the bench and just looking to hunt my shot at all times. I know that’s what they want me to do as a team and the coaches and I’m looking forward to doing that.”
Etc.
Pelinka said the Lakers have a roster spot available and will look at the buy-out market to potentially find a player to add to the team. But, according to people with knowledge of the matter not authorized to discuss it publicly, the Lakers don’t have interest in Cam Thomas, a 6-foot-3 guard who was waived by the Brooklyn Nets.
"Yeah, so we have an open roster spot and we are in sort of active conversations with some players that are available now, doing our due diligence,” Pelinka said. “And then of course, to your point, players down the road could come in through the buyout market. So, we are evaluating that 15th roster spot and at some point probably will likely fill it."
Feb 7, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; Dallas Mavericks forward Marvin Bagley III blocks a shot by San Antonio Spurs forward Harrison Barnes (40) in the first half at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images | Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images
The Dallas Mavericks took on the San Antonio Spurs for the second time in three nights. With their season-long losing streak at six games, Dallas was unable to stop the skid, losing 138-125.
Let’s get to the grades!
Naji Marshall: C
6 PTS / 3 REB / 5 AST / 3 STL / 0 BLK – 25 MIN
Marshall couldn’t replicate his performance from Thursday, missing just about every shot he took and impacting the game very little. His assists, rebounds and steals keep him out of the basement, but not by much.
Max Christie: C+
17 PTS / 3 REB / 3 AST / 1 STL / 0 BLK – 27 MIN
Christie did not have a good game anyway you slice it, but some of the intangible things put the highlights on the mess. He had his shot blocked multiple times, got burned on defense multiple times and just generally looked out of sorts. His plus/minus was a minus-23, only outdone by Cooper Flagg.
Cooper Flagg: C
14 PTS / 4 REB / 4 AST / 0 STL / 0 BLK – 26 MIN
Flagg was solid, but ultimately not assertive enough. He had relatively few touches and couldn’t impact the game all that much on the defensive side of the ball. He actually managed to outdo Christie’s plus-minus with a mind bending minus-31.
Caleb Martin: B-
11 PTS / 5 REB / 2 AST / 0 STL / 0 BLK – 24 MIN
Martin was fine in somewhat limited minutes, but like just about everyone else on the team, had little to speak of on the defensive end. The positive about Martin is that he looks like a capable NBA player again, after his early tenure in Dallas legitimately looked like it could be the end of his time in the league. He knocked in a few shots and it probably would have been a solid contribution if anything else went right for the team overall.
Daniel Gafford: C
9 PTS / 4 REB / 2 AST / 0 STL / 0 BLK – 18 MIN
Gafford wasn’t in the flow of the game much of the time he was on the floor. He had plenty more rebounding opportunities than he capitalized on and his fouls-per-minute ratio was egregious. With the number of fouls, you would think he was physical, but that wasn’t the case and that’s ultimately the real problem — Gafford is too big and athletic to not bully better than he did tonight.
Klay Thompson: B+
19 PTS / 1 REB / 2 AST / 2 STL / 0 BLK – 19 MIN
Thompson is one of the trickier grades night-to-night. Saturday was not the first time he had an A-plus game going for a quarter or two, but then came back down to earth. His overall performance was arguably more than you could expect most nights, nearly scoring a point per minute played, but I confess some generosity on his grade, as he was in some ways just the best of a bad Mavs’ game.
Marvin Bagley III: A+
16 PTS / 12 REB / 2 AST / 1 STL / 4 BLK – 24 MIN
What a debut for Bagley! No, it wasn’t a career best game, but if you told me he’d score six points to go along with three boards, two assists, a steal and two blocks for the game, I would have been impressed. He did that in his first nine minutes. Bagley looked thrilled to be in a new environment and he fit in much better than could be expected for a guy who just got here. He showed quick hands, high energy and good rotations. Free throws were the only particularly ugly thing. It’s difficult to grade a player in his first outing, but benefit of the doubt given for playing like he did immediately after being traded.
Brandon Williams: A
18 PTS / 3 REB / 4 AST / 1 STL / 0 BLK – 23 MIN
Some of it came in garbage time, but Williams had a nice game from start to finish. He hit 8-for-12 from the floor, only turned it over once and chipped in little bits everywhere. This was a nice game that got lost in a bad game, much like Bagley’s.
Final thoughts
Dallas got rolled, and it happened quickly after a game that was competitive and entertaining for nearly the entire first half. In hindsight, this one was over a few minutes into the third quarter. A feel good post-trade win would have been nice to stem the tide on a lengthy losing streak, but take solace in the ever-improving draft status at least. I invite you to follow me @_80MPH on X, and check back often at Mavs Moneyball for all the latest on the Dallas Mavericks.
BERKELEY, Calif. (AP) — Ace Buckner and RJ Godfrey each scored 13 points as No. 20 Clemson overwhelmed California 77-55 and moved into a first-place tie with No. 4 Duke in the Atlantic Coast Conference on Saturday.
The Tigers (20-4, 10-1) and Blue Devils meet in Durham, North Carolina, next Saturday. Duke (21-2, 10-1) lost 71-68 at No. 14 North Carolina on Saturday.
Clemson has won 14 consecutive ACC road games, tied for the second-longest road win streak in conference history. Duke won 24 in a row from 1998 through 2001. The Blue Devils also had a 14-game road ACC win streak (1962-64).
Jake Wahlin and Carter Welling each had 11 points for the Tigers, who went 27 for 59 (55.1%) from the floor, including 12 for 26 (46.2%) from beyond the arc.
Justin Pippen led Cal (17-7, 5-6) with a game-high 19 points.
Pippen's 3-pointer less than five minutes into the game gave the Bears a 13-9 lead. The Tigers then put together a 23-1 spurt capped by Wahlin's 3 that put Clemson up 32-14 with three minutes left in the half.
Dai Dai Ames scored for California on the ensuing possession, ending the Bears’ field-goal drought at nearly 13 minutes.
Clemson entered Saturday second in the ACC in fewest points allowed per game at 64.5. The Tigers led 39-20 at halftime as they held the Bears to 6 for 25 shooting in the opening half. California also committed nine turnovers in the first 20 minutes.
Cal played without center Lee Dort. He missed his fourth straight game because of a leg injury he suffered in the Bears’ 78-66 win at Stanford on Jan. 24.
Up next
Clemson: Hosts Virginia Tech on Wednesday.
Cal: Plays at Syracuse on Wednesday.
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This story has been corrected to show Wahlin and Welling each scored 11 points instead of 13.
