Author: NBA Basketball News, Scores, Standings, Rumors, Fantasy Games

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Spurs' De'Aaron Fox to undergo surgery on left pinkie finger, out for season

This news was expected, especially after it was announced that De’Aaron Fox would meet with doctors in Los Angeles to discuss the next steps for his injured pinkie finger on his left hand.

Fox will undergo season-ending surgery on his finger next Tuesday, a story broken by Shams Charania of The Athletic.

The timing makes sense. With Victor Wembanyama out for the season due to deep vein thrombosis in his shoulder, the Spurs have fallen off to 27-47 and, at 4.5 games out of even the play-in, have no real chance for a postseason run. It's better to get the surgery, start the healing process, and have more time to work on chemistry with Wembanyama, Stephon Castle, and the rest of the Spurs throughout the summer.

Fox injured the finger in training camp when he was still a member of the Sacramento Kings and has played through it all season, Charania reports. Fox had learned to play through the injury, dropping 32 on the Mavericks in a Spurs win Wednesday.

Fox started the season in Sacramento, but after coach Mike Brown was fired Fox pushed to be traded, he no longer felt there was enough stability in the Sacramento organization to win. Fox wanted to be traded to Sacramento to team up with Wembanyama and got his wish.

The future is bright in San Antonio, but Fox has prioritized getting his hand right first.

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LeBron congratulates Steph for his ‘crazy' 4K 3-point feat

LeBron congratulates Steph for his ‘crazy' 4K 3-point feat originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Legend recognize legend. 

Shortly after Warriors superstar guard Steph Curry became the first player in NBA history to record 4,000 made 3-pointersagainst the Sacramento Kings on Thursday, superstar LeBron James didn’t hesitate to give the four-time NBA champion his roses. 

How so? 

From one NBA icon and future Naismith Memorial Hall of Famer to another, James took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to congratulate Curry for his “crazy” accomplishment. 

Despite only finishing with 11 points and two 3-pointers, Curry’s third-quarter triple made history – and prompted the home crowd to ring out “MVP” chants. 

In December 2021, Curry became the league’s all-time 3-point leader when he hit his 2,974th career triple to pass Ray Allen (2,973) in a win over the New York Knicks.

As it stands, Los Angeles Clippers star guard James Harden is the only player in NBA history to surpass 3,000 made 3-pointers. At 3,127 made 3-pointers, Harden, who is also a member of the 2009 NBA Draft class, is a ways away from Curry.  

All facts considered, it only makes sense that James would congratulate Curry. 

After all, he is the undisputed 3-point king – and, by the looks of it, that won’t change anytime soon. 

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Why Steph immediately gave 4K 3-pointer ball to wife Ayesha

Why Steph immediately gave 4K 3-pointer ball to wife Ayesha originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Ever wondered what happens to the game ball from an historic NBA achievement?

For starters, the most important thing is ensuring the safety of the now-treasured artifact. Which is exactly why Steph Curry gave the ball from his iconic 4,000th 3-pointer milestone to his wife Ayesha, who was in attendance for the special moment after she was unable to witness his record-breaking 2,974th 3-pointer on Dec. 14, 2021.

“She wasn’t in New York for the the record, 2,974. So it was cool that for the 4,000 she was here,” Curry told reporters after Thursday’s game. “She got the reponsibility of making sure the ball gets home. Just the idea, like you said, we’ve been all together for a very long time. Coach [Steve Kerr] allows family to be a part of what we do as much as possible. We got kids running around the practice courts. I realize when we all started this we were all youngins in the league and he’s seen our families grow one-by-one over the years. So it’s kind of cool that we get to share the on-court and off-court experience together.”

Curry’s other family — Dub Nation — also got to experience the iconic moment in person after seeing his last significant 3-point milestone occur during a road game, creating a “special” atmosphere the Warriors superstar soaked up in its entirety.

While Curry certainly had a quiet night in the stat sheet by his own standardsduring the Warriors’ 13-104 win over the Sacramento Kings on Thursday — 11 points in 30 minutes — his all-time achievement still remained the highlight of an unforgettable night. And now he has a memento to reflect on it forever.

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Why Steph immediately gave 4K 3-pointer ball to wife Ayesha

Why Steph immediately gave 4K 3-pointer ball to wife Ayesha originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Ever wondered what happens to the game ball from a historic NBA achievement?

For starters, the most important thing is ensuring the safety of the now-treasured artifact. Which is exactly why Warriors star Steph Curry gave the ball from his iconic 4,000th 3-pointer milestone to his wife Ayesha, who was in attendance for the special moment Thursday at Chase Center after she was unable to witness his record-breaking 2,974th 3-pointer on Dec. 14, 2021.

“She wasn’t in New York for the the record, 2,974. So it was cool that for the 4,000 she was here,” Curry told reporters after Thursday’s game. “She got the reponsibility of making sure the ball gets home. Just the idea, like you said, we’ve been all together for a very long time.

“Coach [Steve Kerr] allows family to be a part of what we do as much as possible. We got kids running around the practice courts. I realize when we all started this we were all youngins in the league and he’s seen our families grow one-by-one over the years. So it’s kind of cool that we get to share the on-court and off-court experience together.”

Curry’s other family — Dub Nation — also got to experience the iconic moment in person after seeing his last significant 3-point milestone occur during a road game, creating a “special” atmosphere the Warriors superstar soaked up in its entirety.

While Curry certainly had a quiet night in the stat sheet by his own standardsduring the Warriors’ 130-104 win over the Sacramento Kings on Thursday — 11 points in 30 minutes — his all-time achievement still remained the highlight of an unforgettable night. And now he has a memento to reflect on it forever.

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‘Hellified' Kuminga impresses Butler in explosive Warriors return

‘Hellified' Kuminga impresses Butler in explosive Warriors return originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO – Having watched from the sidelines for the past two months while the Warriors added Jimmy Butler and instantly transformed into a legitimate contender in the NBA’s Western Conference, Jonathan Kuminga’s biggest concern coming back Thursday was not to mess things up.

Butler almost laughed at that idea.

“You can’t mess [anything] up whenever everybody wants everybody to be great,” Butler said after Golden State’s 130-104 win against the Sacramento Kings at Chase Center. “We don’t got no selfish people on this team. I’m going to come in there and tell him, ‘Be you, be you, be you.’

“He’s here and he’s been doing him for some time now, and I want [him] to be [him] more than anybody. You come in and play basketball the way you know how. I myself and everybody else will make sure that we fit your game.”

Playing for the first time since suffering a serious ankle injury against the Memphis Grizzlies on Jan. 4, Kuminga had a solid enough game and a few times flashed some of the athleticism that has kept him a prized prospect in Golden State despite multiple attempts by opponents to trade for him.

Kuminga logged nearly 20 minutes off the bench, scoring 18 points (second on the Warriors behind Draymond Green’s 23) while connecting on seven of his 10 shot attempts. Kuminga was in attack mode almost from the jump and maintained that energy throughout the night.

“I thought he played really hard, and what you notice is just the different dimension he gives us with his explosion to the rim,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. “The way teams are playing Steph [Curry], everybody now is just top-locking him. It makes sense because you’re trying to take away Steph, but then you don’t have help in certain areas.

“So if you have a guy like JK who can attack and score at the rim, it’s a huge help. Just really happy for him. He’s put a lot of work in … and it took him quite a while to get to this point. There was a lot of hard work that went into it and I’m proud of him.”

The Warriors were mired in mediocrity and an erratic team at best before general manager Mike Dunleavy swung the trade for Butler in early February. That deal elevated Golden State to another level and completely changed the outlook for Kerr and his players.

Getting Kuminga back might not have that same type of impact, but it assuredly adds another top-flight scorer to a unit that already has several of those.

Kuminga also was a core part of the Warriors’ defense that forced 14 turnovers and limited the Kings to 37.8-percent shooting from distance.

“Just pretty much getting to where I needed to get to make things happen,” Kuminga said. “Being in the right situation, being in the right position to make everything smooth. Just having [Butler and Green] and the way they’re making things look easier, it’s kind of helped me just to go out there and be myself and not rushing.”

Kuminga back in the mix just as the NBA playoff race heats up gives the Warriors another proven scorer and defender who definitely can make a big difference in any game that he plays.

He got the assist on Curry’s 3,999th career 3-pointer, then later added two of his patented powerful dunks, including a one-handed windmill that had the Chase Center crowd roaring.

“I love that my man came out there aggressive, putting the ball in the basket, high energy, jumping out the gym and dunking the basketball,” Butler said. “I want him to be him to the best of his abilities, continually be great and help this squad achieve something special.

“He’s a hellified athlete. He’s a scorer. He wants to be great and he’s going to do whatever anybody asks him to do on both sides of the ball. That’s what you can ask of anybody, let alone a young player that has as much upside as he does. I see why they want him here.”

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Watch Steph Curry make history with his 4,000th career 3-pointer

Watch Steph Curry make history with his 4,000th career 3-pointer originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Steph Curry once again etched his name in the NBA record books.

Curry became the first player in NBA history to record 4,000 made 3-pointers Thursday after draining a triple in the third quarter of the Warriors’ matchup with the Sacramento Kings at Chase Center. After the bucket, the home crowd rained down “MVP” chants upon the 3-point king.

Curry’s first NBA 3-pointer came on Oct. 30, 2009, against the Phoenix Suns in his second professional game, and nearly 16 years later the Warriors superstar stands alone in the record books.

Los Angeles Clippers star James Harden is the only other player in NBA history to eclipse 3,000 made 3-pointers, but still sits nearly 1,000 behind Curry despite the two entering the league in the same 2009 draft class.

Curry also eclipsed the 25,000-career point mark this past Saturday against the Detroit Pistons, further adding to his already cemented status as one of the greatest players ever to step on an NBA court.

Curry always will be synonymous with the 3-point shot, and while his current mark of 4,000 and counting might already be insurmountable, it appears the two-time NBA MVP is showing no signs of slowing down and could add even more triples to his gaudy count.

Could 5,000 ultimately be in play before Curry decides to retire? He’s under contract with the Warriors through the 2026-27 NBA season, with his basketball future beyond that undetermined

Time will tell, but one thing is certain — no basketball fan would be surprised to see Curry finish on a number never to be matched by another NBA player.

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Steph elated to reach 4K 3-point mark on Warriors' home court

Steph elated to reach 4K 3-point mark on Warriors' home court originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Steph Curry’s 4,000th career 3-pointer always was going to be a special moment, but doing it on his home court took on an added significance for the Warriors superstar.

Following Golden State’s 130-104 win over the Sacramento Kings on Thursday, Curry detailed the “special” energy he felt inside Chase Center on an unforgettable night for everyone in the building.

“It was a special moment to do it at home, obviously,” Curry told the NBA on TNT broadcast after Thursday’s game. “The 2,974 record in New York was great because it was an unbelievable environment at [Madison Square Garden]. But to do it in front of my home fans, it was a weird game because I didn’t get many attempts, but to finally get it in the third [quarter], I felt the energy. It was special.”

While Curry’s scoring numbers were down — 11 points in 33 minutes — his iconic moment still stole the show.

The two-time NBA MVP was showered with “MVP” chants from an energized Bay Area crowd that has seen Curry record countless historic feats over the years, with his latest highlighting the incredible longevity of his 16-year career.

There certainly is a special vibe around these Warriors, who are riding a season-high six-game winning streak and are 13-1 with Jimmy Butler in the lineup since trading for the two-way star.

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Chuck's halftime bet on Kings backfires after Warriors' win

Chuck's halftime bet on Kings backfires after Warriors' win originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Charles Barkley is going to take shots at the Warriors whenever he can, but the TNT analyst’s halftime guarantee about the Sacramento Kings on Thursday certainly aged poorly.

After Golden State’s 23-point lead midway through the second quarter at Chase Center dissolved to a 10-point advantage by the break, Barkley was willing to put money on a Sacramento comeback.

“I’m not even worried about it. Sacramento Kings, they’re going to win this game,” Barkley told his fellow “Inside the NBA” panelists. “All they’ve got to do is take care of the ball.”

When Barkley was told the Warriors at that point were 12-1 when Jimmy Butler plays, he confidently responded that wouldn’t be the case against the Kings.

“Well, they’re going to be 12-2,” Barkley said. “How about that?”

Barkley very quickly found out about “that,” but not before Shaquille O’Neal pulled out wads of cash and tossed them onto the desk to put money against his claim.

While Sacramento made it close, pulling within four points of Golden State in the third quarter, the Warriors ultimately roared ahead for a blowout 130-104 win. Star point guard Steph Curry became the first player in NBA history to make 4,000 career 3-pointers, and forward Draymond Green led the Warriors and tied the game-high with 23 points.

Barkley, meanwhile, added one more failed Warriors prediction to his résumé.

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Knicks owner James Dolan lauds original turnaround plan from Leon Rose: 'We're kind of there'

When the Knicks hired longtime player agent Leon Rose as their president in March 2020, the on-court product wasn't the least bit appealing. They were in the midst of their seventh straight losing season, beset by a reputation known for instability and a constant struggle to attract star talent.

But it didn't take long for Rose to lay the foundation of a winning culture and meet the team's desperate expectations. In five years at the helm, the once-super agent has built a playoff contender, as the current Knicks are well on pace to achieve consecutive 50-win campaigns for the first time in three decades.

The Knicks believed that Rose's relationships and experience in the league would yield positive results in a front office role, and according to team owner James Dolan, their initially-shared vision is being realized.

"We're kind of there. [Karl-Anthony Towns] was sort of the last piece. I'm not expecting any significant changes," Dolan said on the latest episode of the Roommates Show podcast with Knicks stars Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart. "Now it's all up to these guys, the coach, to make it happen. I don't know. Do you think we're missing any pieces?...

"It feels like it's kind of a puzzle, where you change one piece, it changes all the other pieces. We've got to figure all that out, figure it out on the court. I think the fans, as much as they want it every day, they're on this journey with you. They do see it. I feel it. I feel the team is growing, growing, growing. I think the fans see the same thing."

While the Knicks haven't played at full strength for prolonged periods of time this season -- Brunson is the latest starter sidelined due to injury -- adversity isn't exactly impeding progress. Their record of 42-23 is best for third in the Eastern Conference, and they rank sixth in the NBA in average points, fifth in offensive rating, and third in field goal percentage.

It's no secret that Brunson is the catalyst. Entering the All-Star break, he ranked first in points, assists, and minutes among all 28-year-olds in the league this season, and in late January, he became the fastest player in Knicks history to score 5,000 points. Brunson has blossomed into a superstar in New York, and his family's ties with Rose are strong.

Now, consider the two-way impact of Towns, who has been averaging 24.2 points since joining the Knicks via trade with the Minnesota Timberwolves back in October. The veteran center is averaging a career-best double-double this season, despite nursing thumb and knee injuries for months. New York's deal for Towns also required sacrifice -- they were forced to say goodbye to veteran Julius Randle, who played a pivotal role in the franchise turnaround.

With a healthy two-headed monster of Brunson and Towns, along with reliable contributions from Hart, OG Anunobdy, and Mikal Bridges, the Knicks have a starting lineup that can instill fear in opponents and hope in fans. Of course, only time will tell if the gas left in their tank can take them on a deep playoff run this spring. But Dolan is pleased with the process and Rose's efforts.

"The hardest thing to do, particularly in the NBA, is to attract talent," Dolan said. "So who would be the best guy you could find in order to bring talent to your team? At that time, who was the No. 1 basketball agent? Leon Rose. I knew Leon. I'm going to get Leon to do this.

"[The conversaion] was short. He was ready... One of my favorite things we used to say in sales was, 'You can't fall off the floor.' At that point [hiring Rose], we were on the floor. He's been doing a great job."

New York will look to extend its win streak to three games in a must-see road matchup against the Golden State Warriors on Saturday. This time, they'll be riding momentum from Mikal Bridges, who drilled a last-second three to give the Knicks an overtime victory over the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday.

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Paul George done for season? He's consulting with doctors on options for groin, knee injuries.

Paul George has missed the last four 76ers games with a groin injury. Combine that with George's ongoing knee issues, and he has been limited to 41 games total this season (15 games where George, Joel Embiid, and Tyrese Maxey all played).

George is meeting with doctors this week to come up with a treatment plan for his groin and knee, "including a possible procedure," reports Shams Charania of ESPN. A decision is expected early next week.

Considering that Joel Embiid is out for the season and the 76ers are tanking, trying to hold on to their top-six protected pick, it would be stunning if George stepped on an NBA court again this season.

In the wake of the Utah Jazz getting fined $100,000 for not playing Lauri Markkanen in violation of the league’s Player Participation Policy, you can be sure teams are ensuring they follow the appropriate guidelines in sitting star players. This has the feel of the 76ers making sure they don't get hit with a fine.

Last summer George signed a four-year, $212 million max contract to come to Philadelphia, however, injuries have held him back from playing at the level he did last season for the Clippers. George is averaging 16.2 points a game (his fewest since 2012) and has struggled defensively and across the board. With his contract and the massive extension that Joel Embiid got — two nearly untradable contracts right now — the 76ers are pot committed to this core. They are better off getting the high draft pick (lottery gods willing), getting healthy with their stars and players like Jaren McCain (who was having a standout rookie season until he tore a meniscus), and making a run at things again next season.

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What we learned as Kings can't stop Warriors in third straight loss

What we learned as Kings can't stop Warriors in third straight loss originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

BOX SCORE

SAN FRANCISCO – Turns out that 29-point loss to the New York Knicks wasn’t rock bottom for the Kings. Three days after getting shellacked at home, Sacramento’s 2024-25 NBA season reached a new low in Thursday’s 130-104 loss to the Golden State Warriors.

Losing to the four-time NBA champions wasn’t the worst part, especially with center Domantas Sabonis again not able to play due to his hamstring injury.

It was the aesthetics that made it so bad.

The Kings’ season-long defensive issues were on full display in a bad way at Chase Center. Time and time again, Warriors’ shooters were given uncontested, wide-open looks. Even when Sacramento tried to D up, Golden State’s offense was too much to handle.

It wasn’t Stephen Curry doing the majority of damage. Although the NBA icon reached another mercurial plateau with his 4,000 career 3-pointer, it was the Warriors’ all-around effort that wore the Kings down.

On the positive side, DeMar DeRozan remained hot with 23 points and seven assists. Keon Ellis added 18 points off the bench while Zach LaVine scored 14. Jake LaRavia had 13 points.

The Kings (33-32) don’t have much time to lick their wounds. They head to Phoenix for a key game against the Suns on Friday. Despite the loss to Golden State, Sacramento remains the No. 9 seed in the Western Conference while Phoenix is on the outer edge of the NBA play-in round.

The Kings came out against the Warriors a little sluggish on offense but seemed intent on preventing Curry from going off. That worked for a while, but the domino effect was what really hurt Sacramento.

With all that attention on Curry, the Kings were out of position when it came to defending Golden State’s other players. Draymond Green, Moses Moody and Buddy Hield made four 3-pointers apiece. Quinten Post and Gary Payton II each made three 3-pointers.

Sacramento trailed bv 23 in the first half before a late run in the second quarter to make things respectable at the break. Those good vibes went away shortly after halftime, as Golden State increased its lead in the third quarter then coasted in the fourth.

Here are the takeaways from Thursday’s game:

Where’s The Closeout?

Sacramento’s perimeter defense might as well have been on the back of a milk carton. It was missing most of the night, one of the key reasons that enabled Golden State to control the flow and rhythm of the game.

Warriors shooters repeatedly were left wide open, either from the corner or at the top of the arc, and made good on their attempts when given space to operate.

Perimeter defense has been an issue for the Kings all season and was one of former coach Mike Brown’s biggest pet peeves. If they can’t get it corrected before the NBA playoffs, it will be a short but tiring postseason for the Kings.

No Domas, No Interior

With Sabonis still sitting out with a grade 1 hamstring strain, the Kings basically had zero presence on the inside, offensively and defensively.

Sacramento, which had four shots blocked in the key within the first 10 minutes of the game, did OK early without their big man in the middle and scored nearly a dozen points in the paint before settling for contested jumpers and distance shots.

Jonas Valančiūnas continued to start at center in Sabonis’ absence and finished with five points and nine rebounds.

Sabonis’ unique ability to score from inside and outside makes him a perennial NBA All-Star contender, and those elements clearly were a sore spot against the Warriors. The good news is that Kings interim coach Doug Christie is optimistic that Sabonis would return soon.

Monk’s Off Night

Making his second consecutive start after missing a trio of games with a toe injury, Kings guard Malik Monk had a frustrating night. Although his offensive numbers were low – seven points on 3-of-13 shooting (0-for-5 from distance) Monk grabbed four boards and dished out six assists.

Monk obviously has earned a strong reputation for coming off the bench, but he has been very good as a starter for the Kings. Keeping him with the starters, despite his off night against Golden State, is a must for Christie.

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