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

I don't know which is more improbable: That Spurs big man Sandro Mamukelashvili scored 34 points in less than 20 minutes, setting an NBA record, or that he is good friends with legendary rapper Flavor Flav.

We have video evidence of both. New York native Mamukelashvili shot 7-of-7 from 3 and put up 34 points on the Knicks to spark a 120-105 San Antonio upset. After the game, Flavor Flav crashed his postgame interview.

That's some March Madness for you.

This was an ugly loss for the Knicks, who just look worn down from the road and continue to struggle to generate offense without Jalen Brunson (sprained ankle). That said, New York is pretty solidly locked into the No. 3 seed in the East, so the loss doesn't hurt much in the standings.

My impression of Bronny James is that he is very self-aware. From his press conferences to his demeanor on the court, he understands his situation and the opportunities he has gotten, and he is putting in the work to try and make the most of them.

That comes across in a must-read, lengthy interview with The Athletic’s Joe Varden, where Bronny talks about everything with his rookie season. That includes the face-to-face confrontation between his father, LeBron James, and ESPN's Stephen A. Smith after Smith said on air, "I am pleading with LeBron James as a father: Stop this." Bronny, taking a page from his father's book, is using this as fuel.

"My first thought about everything is I always try to just let it go through one ear and out the other, put my head down and come to work and be positive every day," Bronny said. "But sometimes it just, it fuels me a little bit. I see everything that people are saying, and people think, like, I'm a f—— robot, like I don't have any feelings or emotions.

"But I just take that and use it as fuel for me to go out, wake up every day and get to the gym early, get my extra work in, watch my extra film every day, get better every day," Bronny continued. "That's what Rob wants me to do as a young guy, coming in, playing in the G League and learning from far on the bench watching the Lakers play."

Nepotism may be frowned upon, but it is as American as apple pie and has long run through the highest levels of power and money in society. Bronny has in the past been open about the chance he was handed — being drafted No. 55 by the Lakers and then given a multi-year NBA contract — but has also said what matters is what he does with that opportunity.

This season, Bronny has gotten better. Lakers coach J.J. Redick discussed Bronny's improved playmaking, while GM Rob Pelinka praised his work ethic. Bronny's defense has always been his strength, it was at the other end of the court where his confidence and skills needed to grow.

"I definitely think I've improved, not only as a player, but just having a different mindset as a player to go out and play my game and play the game that I know how to play," Bronny said. "I feel really good about it — I see the progress."

There has been progress, but there is still a ways to go, especially with his shot, if Bronny is going to eventually crack the Lakers rotation (something that was never expected this season and likely not next season, he was always a project). That was evident recently when he played 16 minutes recently against Denver (in a game where LeBron and Luka Doncic were out). There were positives like a clutch 3-pointer plus a steal, and he got to the foul line at one point, but he also was 1-of-5 shooting on the night. With the South Bay Lakers of the G-League, Bronny is averaging 17.4 points a game, but is shooting just 31% on 3-pointers.

There is a segment of fans who want to pile on Bronny, and while those fans want to hold him up as an example of a larger societal issue, at the core he's just a kid trying to take advantage of his chance. This was never a bad bet by the Lakers, they took him with the No. 55 pick — a spot deep in the draft where actual NBA rotation players are rarely found — and they have him on a cheap contract. Every team has (or should have) multiple developmental projects going on, and Bronny is one of the Lakers' projects.

Whether it works out or not remains to be seen, but give Bronny credit, he is putting in the work.

Bay Area tech investor Bill Chisholm has agreed to purchase the Boston Celtics for a record $6.1 billion — the most ever paid for any North American sports franchise, a story broken by Shams Charania of ESPN and confirmed by the Grousbeck family and the Boston Basketball Partners (the sellers).

The sale breaks the record of $6 billion paid for the NFL's Washington Commanders. The previous record price for an NBA franchise is $4 billion (what Mat Ishbia paid for the Phoenix Suns).

“Growing up on the North Shore and attending college in New England, I have been a die-hard Celtics fan my entire life,” Chisholm said in a released statement. “I understand how important the Celtics are to the city of Boston – the role the team plays in the community is different than any other city in the country. I also understand that there is a responsibility as a leader of the organization to the people of Boston, and I am up for this challenge.”

“Bill is a terrific person and a true Celtics fan, born and raised here in the Boston area,” team governor Wyc Grousbeck said. “His love for the team and the city of Boston, along with his chemistry with the rest of the Celtics leadership, make him a natural choice to be the next Governor and controlling owner of the team. I know he appreciates the importance of the Celtics and burns with a passion to win on the court while being totally committed to the community. Quite simply, he wants to be a great owner. He has asked me to run the team as CEO and Governor for the first three years, and stay on as his partner, and I am glad to do so.”

The sale still needs to be approved by the NBA Board of Governors (the other owners) but is expected to go through.

Chisholm is purchasing a championship team — Boston won the NBA title a season ago and is among the favorites to win this season. The team is set up to contend for seasons to come, but it's going to get very expensive for ownership to keep the team at that level.

The Celtics were put up for sale last summer by the majority owner Grousbeck family, which had a controlling interest in the Boston Basketball Partners, a group of investors who owned the team. Wyc Grousbeck is the face and team governor, but his father, Irving Grousbeck, 90, was the largest single owner in the family (about 20% of the team) and reportedly had pushed for the sale.

The Grousbecks surprised the NBA last July with the announcement they were selling a 51% interest in the team and want to do so in phases, starting now and running until 2028, with Wyc Grousbeck remaining the team's governor until then. Whether Chisolm or the NBA — which just saw a messy sale of the Milwaukee Bucks to Mark Lore and Alex Rodriguez in part because of a dragged-out sale — will want this sale to close sooner remains to be seen.

Chisholm is the managing partner of Symphony Technology Group (STG), a San Francisco-based private equity firm that invests in "market leaders across the mid-market software and software-enabled tech services landscape," according to its website. RSA and SurveyMonkey are among the better-known companies in the STG portfolio.

The NBA was hoping for a $6 billion or higher price tag for the sale because it will impact the buy-in price for expansion, if the NBA still plans to continue down that road. The Grousbeck and partners purchased the Celtics in 2002 for $360 million.

Beyond the purchase price, owning Celtics could be very expensive, both on and off the court, in the coming years.

On the court, keeping the Celtics' championship core together will send the team deep into the tax apron. Jaylen Brown's new max contract kicked in this season, and next season Jayson Tatum's already signed max contract begins (2025-26), plus next season there is $32.4 million to Jrue Holiday, $30.7 million for Kristaps Porzingis, $28.7 million for Derrick White and dealing with free agents like Al Horford and Luke Kornet. Payroll and taxes are expected to come out to $252 million for the Celtics this season (fourth most in the league), and that is expected to balloon up to more than $450 million for the 2025-26 season (when the repeater tax kicks in with a vengeance).

Off the court, the Celtics don't own TD Garden (it is owned by the same group that owns the NHL's Boston Bruins). There is speculation that part of the reason Chisholm purchased the team is to use them in a real estate deal to build a new arena (and likely some retail and other infrastructure around it, depending on the exact location).

Based solely on win/loss records, Wednesday's game between the 76ers and Thunder would not be classified as a "showdown." However, with the Thunder receiving Philadelphia's first-round pick if it falls outside the top six, the visitors have been doing all they can to improve their chances of keeping it. This made Oklahoma City's injury report downright hilarious.

Already without Jalen Williams, Oklahoma City also ruled out Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Luguentz Dort and Isaiah Hartenstein. It would be difficult for most teams to win with that much firepower in street clothes. Oklahoma City, which boasts the NBA's best record, isn't most teams. Their reserves made the most of their opportunity and rolled to a 133-100 victory.

PF/C Jaylin Williams (2%) recorded his second triple-double, finishing with 19 points, 17 rebounds, 11 assists, two steals and three three-pointers in 38 minutes. SG/SF Aaron Wiggins (17%) led the team with 26 points while also tallying four rebounds, six assists and four three-pointers in 29 minutes, while PG/SG Isaiah Joe (4%) contributed 21 points, three rebounds, five assists and five three-pointers.

All three players have been in the Thunder rotation, but their fantasy ceilings are low due to the production of the starters they were filling in for. Wiggins offers the highest ceiling moving forward of the three who shined on Wednesday. However, due to Oklahoma City's lead atop the standings, Wednesday may not be the last time this season the Thunder decide to rely on the standouts who played so well against the 76ers. Let's look at a few more of Wednesday's top pickups.

SF/PF/C Jeremy Sochan (43%), San Antonio Spurs

Sochan, who has positional eligibility at all three frontcourt spots in Yahoo! leagues, replaced Bismack Biyombo in the Spurs' starting lineup for Wednesday's win over the Knicks. He logged 38 minutes, finishing with 10 points, six rebounds, three assists and one steal. While the production was modest, Sochan's playing time was not. Even if he does not remain in the starting lineup, Sochan consistently hitting (or surpassing) 30 minutes would do wonders for his fantasy ceiling. Also, a tip of the cap to Sandro Mamukelashvili, who went off for 34 points, nine rebounds, three assists, one steal and seven three-pointers in just 19 minutes. While he should not be added in most leagues based on one historic performance, he's worth watching for the rest of Week 20.

SG/SF Bennedict Mathurin (41%), Indiana Pacers

The Pacers were again without Tyrese Haliburton, which ensured that Mathurin would remain in the starting lineup. And he was productive in the Pacers' win over Dallas, accounting for 23 points (6-of-12 FGs, 10-of-12 FTs), seven rebounds, one assist, one steal and one three-pointer in 32 minutes. Mathurin's value for Indiana's final two games of Week 20, Thursday and Saturday matchups with the Nets, depends on Haliburton's availability. If Haliburton can return from his back injury and play in both games, Mathurin's value will take a hit.

PF/C Kel'el Ware (41%), Miami Heat

Ware returned to the Heat starting lineup on Wednesday after coming off the bench in a loss to the Knicks two nights prior. He played 33 minutes and recorded a solid stat line, finishing with 14 points, 12 rebounds, one steal and three blocked shots. The issue for Ware is that the Heat lineup has undergone multiple changes in hopes of ending the team's nine-game losing streak. Ware offers a relatively high ceiling, but his ever-changing role has made the rookie challenging to trust in shallower fantasy leagues.

PF/C Kyle Filipowski (32%) and PG/SG Isaiah Collier (31%), Utah Jazz

Walker Kessler and Collin Sexton were in the Jazz starting lineup on Wednesday, but they logged 15 and 19 minutes, respectively. With John Collins (ankle) injured and Lauri Markkanen (personal) away from the team, there was even more reason to trust Filipowski and Collier. Filipowski finished Wednesday's win over the Wizards with 21 points, four rebounds, two assists and four three-pointers in 21 minutes. Sure, getting more rebounds and some defensive production out of the rookie forward/center would have been nice, but he shot 8-of-11 from the field.

As for Collier, he only committed one turnover while recording a line of 16 points, three rebounds, six assists, four steals and two three-pointers in 28 minutes. He has been a fixture in the Jazz starting lineup since late January, which appears unlikely to change before the end of the season. Fantasy managers looking for low-rostered players who should not have to worry about their playing time would be wise to consider Collier and Filipowski.

PG/SG Spencer Dinwiddie (25%), Dallas Mavericks

Dinwiddie was only 6-of-16 from the field in the Mavericks' loss to the Pacers, but the overall stat line was solid. He tallied 17 points, three rebounds, 12 assists, three steals, two three-pointers and just one turnover in 42 minutes. Jaden Hardy (one percent) had a good night off the bench in his first game back from an ankle injury that sidelined him for two weeks, finishing with 24 points, two rebounds, two assists and three three-pointers in 24 minutes. However, he was a risky play since he saw action for the first time in two weeks, and nights like Wednesday have not been the norm for Hardy. Dinwiddie is the safer play, especially with Brandon Williams (who was out on Wednesday) approaching his 50-game limit as a two-way contract player.

C Yves Missi (23%), New Orleans Pelicans

Missi played 26 minutes in Wednesday's win over the Timberwolves, recording 13 points, seven rebounds, two assists and three blocked shots. While the rookie only shot 1-of-4 from the foul line, he was 6-of-12 from the field. Missi can provide points, rebounds and defensive stats in his role, but category league managers must take a hit in the free throw percentage category.

C Tristan Vukcevic (6%), Washington Wizards

With Kyshawn George unavailable due to injury, Vukcevic made his first start of the season on Wednesday. Now a double-digit scorer in three straight games, he finished Washington's loss to Utah with 17 points, five rebounds, two blocks and one three-pointer in 21 minutes. Vukcevic shot 8-of-11 from the field and is 20-of-39 over his last three outings. While his fantasy potential depends partially on George's availability, Vukcevic played 25 and 24 minutes in the two games before his start on Wednesday. The playing time is there, and he can take advantage of his opportunities.

SF/PF Ryan Dunn (4%), Phoenix Suns

Dunn has started the Suns' last four games and hit double figures in each. Shooting 7-of-11 from the field, he finished Wednesday's win over the Bulls with 16 points, five rebounds, one steal, one block and two three-pointers in 30 minutes. Bradley Beal's absence with a hamstring injury raises Dunn's fantasy ceiling, especially if he's allowed to remain in the starting lineup. The only negative is that the Suns only play once more during Week 20, but they have a four-game slate for Week 21.

C Kai Jones (4%), Dallas Mavericks

Jaden Hardy wasn't the only Mavericks player who returned after a two-week absence on Wednesday. Jones, who missed time with a quad injury, was immediately inserted into the starting lineup due to Dallas' lack of healthy bigs. Despite playing just 24 minutes, he accounted for 18 points, 11 rebounds and one assist, shooting 8-of-9 from the field. We'll see if (or when) Anthony Davis can return from his groin injury, but Jones will be worthy of a look for Week 21. Week 20 is a two-game week for Dallas, so there will only be one more opportunity to slot Jones into your lineups (Friday vs. Detroit), but they'll play four games during Week 21.

SF Justin Edwards (3%), Philadelphia 76ers

With the 76ers doing all they can to improve their chances of holding onto their first-round pick, losing games is a positive right now. Playing against the franchise that would claim the pick if it lands outside the top six, the 76ers were blown out in Oklahoma City on Wednesday. However, Edwards was one of the bright spots, as he finished with 19 points, two rebounds, two assists, two steals, one block and three three-pointers in 30 minutes. While there is a lot that the 76ers front office got wrong this season, they did well with their rookie class. Jared McCain was playing excellent basketball before his season-ending injury, and second-round pick Adem Bona has shown flashes recently when healthy. The same can be said for Edwards, who went undrafted last summer. He shouldn't lack opportunities to prove himself before the season ends, especially with Paul George out.