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

They met two days prior to Sunday night’s encounter at Crypto.com Arena, a two-game set between the Lakers and Memphis Grizzlies reminiscent of a playoff series.

The Lakers won the first game Friday night here and knew the Grizzlies were going to bring more intensity and a stronger effort even with star guard Ja Morant (right calf contusion) not playing.

And that was the case, the Lakers falling behind by 16 points in the second quarter, the Grizzlies ramping it up in a big way. But with Luka Doncic, LeBron James and Jake LaRavia leading the way, the Lakers pulled out a 120-114 win and improved to 12-0 in clutch games.

“They played exceptional basketball in the first half when we knew we were going to get their best shot, especially after the playoff-type of format,” said LeBron James, who had 26 points, 10 assists to go along with seven rebounds. “The team always make the adjustments coming to the next game, better prepared. So, I think it's just in the second half, we started to crack the code a little bit. Was able to get the lead down in the third. They kind of broke away a little bit again, but we just kept at it out there and was able to have a great fourth quarter.”

Doncic almost had a triple-double with 36 points, nine rebounds and eight assists. LaRavia, starting in the absence of Rui Hachimura, had 26 points, five rebounds and four assists. It was the second straight time LaRavia, who came in averaging 9.1 points, scored 20-plus. HIs defense also was on point again, another sign of LaRavia’s development and a role he has been able to fill for the Lakers.

“I just feel like I’m a player where when you tell me the things that you want me to do I’m going to just go out there and do them,” said LaRavia, who was nine-for-16 from the field and four-for-10 from three-point range. “I’ve had plenty of conversations with (Lakers coach) JJ (Redick), with (Lakers assistant) coach Beau (Levesque) and they tell me what they want me to do out there and I kind of just go out there and I try my best to do that every game. Shots aren’t going to fall every game, but I can control the effort that I bring to a game, crashing every time. I know they talk about offensive crash-rate. I’m just trying to do that every night and just bringing energy to this team.”

Back-and-forth the game went in the fourth quarter,, with the Lakers and Grizzlies taking turns delivering in tense moments. The Lakers finally took the lead for good at 100-99 on a basket by Doncic.

Read more:Plaschke: Thank you, L.A. sports teams, for saving me during the worst year

Then James scored on a three-point play and made one of two free throws for a 104-99 lead with 3 minutes 49 seconds left.

The Lakers (22-11) had an answer for every Grizzlies counter, the final stamp on the game being Doncic’s back-to-back three-pointers for a nine-point lead with 2:01 left.

So, the Lakers passed the test the NBA put in front of them by scheduling a game against the Grizzlies here Friday night and then at home again on Sunday night.

“I like it,” Redick said. “I do think it does replicate [the playoffs] in some ways. A playoff series, particularly when it's not a home-and-away situation, but more of you're playing a two-game series on somebody's home court for the day in between. Had a few of these last year. So, I like this for our team and it's a good growth opportunity. Coming off a win, knowing that there's a lot of stuff that we can be better at and where can we make improvements. That's the big challenge to me.”

For Redick, that meant what it always does for the Lakers — improving on defense.

They held the Grizzlies to 42% shooting and 24.4% from three-point range.

The Lakers also wanted to jump-start center Deandre Ayton from a five-game slumber.

Ayton had just four points on two-for-four shooting against the Grizzlies on Friday night and hadn’t scored more than 12 points in that span.

So, the Lakers went to Ayton at the outset, trying to ignite his game. It worked to a degree, Ayton scoring 15 points, grabbing eight rebounds and blocking three shots.

“I trust my teammates so well and they are generational players so I really try not to clog their brain up with just me or try to focus on me,” said Ayton, who was six-for-eight from the field. “It’s more like me wanting to crash the boards early and get going. But I just appreciate them finding me in spots where I got the advantage and that’s all I can really worry about. It’s really me not getting frustrated. It’s more like this where I dominate. I don’t really care about a play for me or touches. It's the rhythm of the basketball game that keeps me in the flow and keeps me going.”

Sign up for our weekly newsletter on all things Lakers.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

NEW YORK (AP) — Michael Porter Jr. had 27 points, 11 rebounds and five assists in his first game against his former team, and the Brooklyn Nets beat the Denver Nuggets 127-115 on Sunday to snap a three-game losing streak.

The Nuggets got Aaron Gordon and Christian Braun back from lengthy injury absences and a huge game from Jamal Murray, but fell to 1-2 since Nikola Jokic was lost for perhaps a month with a hyperextended left knee.

Murray finished with 27 points, a career-high 16 assists and six rebounds. Gordon had 20 points off the bench after missing 19 games with a strained right hamstring, while Braun started and scored four points after he sat out 23 games with a sprained left ankle.

Noah Clowney added 22 points for the Nets, while Cam Thomas and Day’Ron Sharpe each had 17. Sharpe started at center with Nic Claxton out for personal reasons.

Porter played six seasons for the Nuggets after being taken with the No. 14 pick in the 2018 draft and was a starter on their 2023 NBA championship team. He was traded to Brooklyn in the offseason for Cam Johnson and came in averaging a career-high 25.8 points.

He scored nine points in the second quarter and Brooklyn led 59-52 at halftime after Murray’s jumper with 0.2 seconds to play.

The Nets quickly opened it up again in the third quarter. Brooklyn was 7 for 9 from three-point range in the period, scoring 41 points and taking a 100-84 advantage to the fourth.

Tim Hardaway Jr. had two three-pointers to open the fourth and cut it to 10, but Thomas had the last seven points of a 12-0 spurt that blew it open at 112-90.

Hardaway scored 26 but Denver fell to 1-4 on its seven-game East Coast trip. Johnson sat out with a knee injury.

Up next

Nuggets: Visit Philadelphia on Monday.

Nets: Host Orlando on Tuesday.

Keegan Murray's future status uncertain after ankle injury in Kings vs. Bucks originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Keegan Murray’s injury status remains unknown after the Kings’ tough 115-98 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks on Sunday night at Golden 1 Center.

The 25-year-old was ruled out with a left ankle sprain in the third quarter and was helped to the locker room after an awkward landing due to mid-air contact with Bucks center Myles Turner. 

Keegan Murray has been ruled out with a left ankle sprain. https://t.co/PyubROloLr

— Kings on NBCS (@NBCSKings) January 5, 2026

Sacramento coach Doug Christie couldn’t share much about Murray’s status with reporters postgame.

“I don’t know yet,” Christie said. “So, it’s not even for me to speculate. Obviously, we’ll get everything, and you guys will know as soon as we do.”

“You guys will know as soon as I do.”

Doug Christie shared the latest on Keegan Murray’s injury status. pic.twitter.com/Sx8lswthv1

— Kings on NBCS (@NBCSKings) January 5, 2026

Murray had just recovered from a two-game absence due to a calf injury and returned to the Kings’ starting lineup in Tuesday’s blowout loss to the Clippers.

He was off to a strong start against the Bucks, posting 12 points on 6-of-13 shooting with two blocks, one steal and three rebounds over 27 minutes.

Murray’s mobility particularly was on display, as he made a pair of coast-to-coast highlights in the first quarter after intercepting a Giannis Antetokounmpo pass and later stuffing Bobby Portis Jr.

Keegan saves the possession after getting the steal 💪 pic.twitter.com/jzXEP9lpCQ

— Kings on NBCS (@NBCSKings) January 5, 2026

OK, KEEGAN 🔥 pic.twitter.com/nWBJTv5Ra0

— Kings on NBCS (@NBCSKings) January 5, 2026

The last thing Sacramento needed after its record worsened to 8-28 following the loss to Milwaukee was another injury to deal with.

But after Zach LaVine returned to action on Sunday upon recovering from a left ankle injury that had sidelined him for nine games, Christie now has to wait and see — and work with — a potentially hobbled or sidelined Murray.

The injury bug truly is decimating the Kings.

“It’s hard, man,” Christie said. “You feel for your kids, first and foremost … It’s just difficult … yeah.”

Sacramento has lost five games in a row.

Next up, the Kings have an 8 p.m. matchup with the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday at American Airlines Center, and it’s to be determined if Murray will be available.

Download and follow The Deuce & Mo Podcast

Jimmy Butler gets ‘brutally honest' with heartfelt Buddy Hield description originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

One thing you always can count on is Jimmy Butler keeping it real — no matter the cost.

The always honest Warriors star was asked how Buddy Hield continues to bring good vibes to the team despite not playing consistent minutes on the floor.

“It matters,” Butler told reporters after Golden State’s win over the Utah Jazz on Saturday at Chase Center. ” But Buddy is just goofy anyway, whether he’s playing or not, he’s goofy. And I think that’s the consistency that we love. Buddy’s going to be Buddy, and we hope everybody is like that — good, bad or indifferent. You have good days, more good ones than bad ones. But I think Buddy is the most consistent.

“He’s smiling, joking no matter what, his spirit’s always high and we follow suit in that.”

Jimmy Butler shared a brutally honest summary of what Buddy Hield brings to the Warriors 👀 pic.twitter.com/93TxsM878F

— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) January 4, 2026

Butler, in his 15th NBA season, has seen and been around all types of different players.

He also is an avid world traveler and enjoys experiencing things outside of basketball, which also has allowed him to be around different types of people and personalities. So while Hield’s spirit is unique to the NBA circumstance, Butler acknowledged that he might know where it comes from.

“Man, you know what?” Butler said. “Personally, because I know so many people from the Caribbean, I know so many people that are from Africa, they’re some of the most humble and grateful people to be where they are and to have what they have. That’s Buddy’s background. That’s who Buddy is. I don’t like Buddy, but I really respect Buddy. I do. I really respect Buddy for what he brings every day, as far as smiling, being a great teammate, you know, doing whatever you need him to do.

“And then if you need anything from him off the court or just to hang and just to talk, he actually is a good guy to vent to.”

There it is! Butler almost gave Hield a complete compliment without teasing him.

Almost.

The Warriors (19-17) will continue to need Hield’s contagiously positive vibes as the second half of the 2025-26 NBA season quickly approaches.

Download and follow the Dubs Talk Podcast

The Knicks had another abysmal defensive performance on Saturday. 

They allowed the Sixers to hit 47 percent of their three-point shots (36 three-point FGAs). They put up little resistance against Philadelphia’s starters. The trio of VJ Edgecombe, Tyrese Maxey, and Joel Embiid combined for 88 points on 62 percent shooting (53 FGAs). 

It was another game in a growing stretch where the Knicks struggled to get stops. 

How does it get fixed?

Maybe it’s as simple as getting Josh Hart and Landry Shamet back in the lineup? 

New York is 2-3 without Hart, who has been sidelined with an ankle injury.  

They have fared well in Shamet’s absence but they look like a team that can use his on-ball defense. 

New York’s point of attack defense has been bad over the past two games. 

If you go back a bit further, they are giving up 122 points per 100 possessions over the past five games. That’s the fourth-worst defensive rating in the NBA. And it’s not a coincidence that the five-game stretch coincides with Hart’s absence. 

The Knicks had Hart in the starting lineup for about a month prior to his injury. In that month, they had the 11^th best defense in the league (113 points allowed per 100 possessions). 

When will Hart be back from his ankle injury? The Knicks said that he will be re-evaluated next Friday. As noted on Honda Sports Night, Hart is expected to return shortly after that re-evaluation, if not sooner. Shamet – out since Nov. 22 with a shoulder sprain – also should be back on the court in the next week. So barring any setbacks, the Knicks should be close to whole again very soon. 

Will Hart and Shamet help straighten them out on defense? Can Mike Brown and defensive coordinator Brendan O’Connor make adjustments that yield better results? 

The answer to those two questions will tell you a lot about this Knicks season. If the Knicks can be serviceable on defense, they have enough depth and talent to play into late May/June. 

If they can’t sort through those defensive issues, the Knicks may fall well short of their goals this spring. 

Jimmy Butler shares sound advice to Jonathan Kuminga as trade deadline looms originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Jimmy Butler continues to be a mentor for Jonathan Kuminga both on and off the court.

So as Kuminga continues to maneuver what’s likely to be his impending Warriors divorce, Butler will remain by his side regardless of the outcome. Butler told reporters after the Warriors’ win over the Utah Jazz on Saturday that their relationship hasn’t changed at all despite Kuminga being out of coach Steve Kerr’s rotation lately.

“Same. He better come to my house tonight and eat dinner, play some dominoes,” Butler said (h/t ESPN’s Anthony Slater). “That is my brother, so I care less if you’re out of the rotation. We hang out. That’s my friend, That’s my brother. That’s not going to change.

“Basketball is basketball. I love him like a brother and I wish him the best. And I still see him in here getting his work in, so his mind’s right.”

Kuminga has been benched or played limited minutes over the past few weeks as the Feb. 5 NBA trade deadline approaches. Now more than ever, his future with Golden State is uncertain.

The 23-year-old wing can’t be dealt until Jan. 15, and several reports indicate that a move is in the works.

Regardless, that doesn’t change anything for Butler and his relationship with Kuminga.

“That ain’t got nothing to do with me,” Butler said. “I’m still going to call and check on him. I’m still going to go visit him, still go to his house, eat his food and play with his kids. His future, though, that’s between him and whoever else. But the bond and the brotherhood that we’ve built, ain’t no future going to change that.”

Kuminga started the first 12 games of the 2025-26 NBA season, but has played only six times since. He’s averaging 11.3 points on 43.1-percent shooting from the field and 32.0 percent from 3-point range. He hasn’t played in 10 of the past 11 games.

Butler was asked about whether he sees the uncertainty of Kuminga’s future weighing on him.

“Nope. Not at all,” Butler said. “I told JK, you come in here and be a pro of all pros. Come here and get your work done. You smile. You have a good time because you’re still an NBA player. You’re one of the best people in the world and I’m not even talking about basketball. So you keep smiling, you keep being the great human being that you are.”

Download and follow the Dubs Talk Podcast

Sixers ‘see how good we can be,' look like they might have fun road ahead  originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

VJ Edgecombe surely spoke for just about everyone in the cramped visiting locker room at Madison Square Garden when he paused during the middle of his media scrum with an admission.

“I don’t even know what today is,” Edgecombe said.

Whatever the day — Saturday, it turns out — Edgecombe’s first long NBA road trip ended in fun fashion. No one minded thinking about the Sixers’ road ahead, too.

The 19-14 Sixers concluded their five-game trip with three straight wins. There was minimal daydreaming required for those inclined to picture a best-case playoff scenario where the Sixers’ stars are healthy, their backcourt a youthful, joyful powerhouse, their role players ready and able to do valuable, unglamorous jobs. 

It’s no coincidence that only Kelly Oubre Jr. (left knee LCL sprain) and Trendon Watford (left adductor strain) have been sidelined lately. 

“I think for three games in a row, we’ve had the same lineup,” Sixers head coach Nick Nurse said postgame. “You’d have to check your notes, that might be a record for us. … I really don’t remember that happening for a long time. So we’ll take that, and we can hopefully get to four on Monday (vs. the Nuggets).” 

Both Edgecombe and Tyrese Maxey made many special plays on both ends of the floor in Saturday’s victory over the Knicks. They also appeared tireless and sometimes even immune to misses. The pair totaled 62 points on 24-for-38 shooting. Joel Embiid joined them in the highly efficient department with 26 points on 9-for-15 shooting. 

“I think the main thing is we see how good we can be when we’re gelling,” Edgecombe said, “when everybody’s touching the rock, when everybody’s playing hard, when everybody’s bought into their role. I think we see how good we can be.”

Embiid was in a tongue-in-cheek mood after the game. The seven-time All-Star’s final make was his first dunk all season, an unguarded flush with 24.9 seconds left. He raised his arms, grinned and ran down the floor with one finger in the air. 

“Feels good,” Embiid said. “Easy one. I wish it would’ve been one off the backboard. That’s the next step.”

In his career, Embiid has a 17-4 regular-season record against the Knicks. He’s heard plenty of boos over the years in New York. 

“It’s always good to be here and talk back to the fans,” he said. “They were quiet today, but I guess that’s what happens when you’re losing the whole game. But I always have fun going back and forth with them. Sometimes it’s good to be liked, sometimes it’s good to be hated.”

As Embiid himself would acknowledge, nothing is ever set in stone for him and the Sixers. He’s played very well during the team’s three-game streak — 27.3 points, 8.0 rebounds, 6.3 assists per contest — but sustained health has been elusive since Embiid suffered a left knee lateral meniscus tear in late January of 2024. Going back much further, he knows all about strange, sad plot twists that have derailed promising seasons. 

That doesn’t mean the Sixers are foolish to like how they’re playing and believe they can keep improving.

After enduring a nightmare of a season, they’re on track to win far more than 24 games.

“It’s super rewarding, given the season we had last year and everything we had to deal with — the injuries, new players, just gaining rhythm with one another,” Paul George said. “This year we’ve still been battling injuries and have still had some unfortunate luck on that side, but I think the biggest difference is we just feel better as a group. We trust in the process of this team. … You just naturally gain camaraderie and I think it’s carrying over.

“I think it’s safe to say everyone in this locker room is starting to enjoy being out on that floor, playing on both ends. We’re just gelling. … Everything that we’ve been trying to connect, it’s translating on the court.”

Does Nurse find the recent success satisfying after a year full of hardship exception signings and undermanned, outmatched nights?

“We’ve got a long way to go,” he said. “I told you at the start of the season that we were in a big hole we had to dig out of. We’re still digging. Still, conditioning, rhythm, health can get a little better. I think we just build on that.”

The Knicks chipped away at a big second-half deficit for the second consecutive game, but ultimately fell to the 76ers at the Garden, 130-119.

New York has now lost three straight games and two straight at home. The 76ers have now defeated the Knicks in both of their games this season, both at MSG. 

After not playing in the Knicks' disappointing loss to the Hawks on Friday, Karl-Anthony Towns and Mitchell Robinson returned to the lineup, but the size wasn't enough as the combination of Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe combined for 62 points.

The last time Maxey was at the Garden (Dec. 19), the point guard posted 30 points with nine assists in the 76ers' win. Maxey one-upped himself on Saturday, scoring 36 points on 14 of 22 shooting with eight rebounds and four assists. He also had a steal and two blocks. 

Jalen Brunson led the Knicks with 31 points on 10 of 21 shooting, four rebounds and four assists.

Here are the takeaways...

-It was a physical game early, with the refs swallowing their whistles for both teams -- to the chagrin of the players and coaches. The Knicks took advantage of the physicality, especially Brunson, who scored 12 points on 3-for-7 shooting and 5 of 7 from the free throw line. 

However, the 76ers shot 61 percent from the field thanks to their paint points. They only took three three-pointers in the quarter (1-for-3), with Joel Embiid (7 points), Edgecombe (7) and Maxey (6) giving Philadelphia the early 31-30 lead after one.

-Brunson was on the bench to start the second, and the combination of KAT, Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby, Jordan Clarkson and Miles McBride was careless with the ball. The 76ers forced turnovers and frustrated Towns with their physicality, so much so that the big man picked up a technical foul with about eight minutes to go in the quarter. With Brunson on the bench, Towns forced it whenever he touched the ball, leading to turnovers and poor possessions. 

The three ball would help the Knicks cut into Philly's lead, but the 76ers used the three themselves to push their lead to double digits. A late flurry from the Knicks helped them cut their deficit to 66-58 at the half.

Brunson scored 21 points at halftime, while the only other Knick to score in double figures was Anunoby (12). Towns had just two points on 1 of 6 shooting. Philadelphia, after shooting just three threes in the first quarter, was 7 of 14 in the second and the Knicks could not adjust. Edgecombe had a team-high 18 points on 7-for-10 shooting (4 of 6 from three) in the first half. 

-The Knicks' defense continued to be porous in the third as the 76ers got whatever shot they want, building a game-high 17-point lead midway through the frame. The second group off the bench helped cut a 19-point deficit to 12 with a minute to go in the third, but Maxey's whip-around pass to former Knick Quentin Grimes for a three stopped New York's momentum. McBride made all three free throws when he was fouled taking a three as the Knicks went into the final quarter down 99-87.

-Towns' offensive game finally woke up to start the fourth as the big man went at Embiid down low to help the second unit cut the deficit to nine points. With 9:04, however, the Knicks had a chance to cut into the Philly lead even more, but Edgecombe blocked a Bridges three that led to a fastbreak, and the rookie guard finished it with a dunk to force a Mike Brown timeout. 

The Knicks tried to claw back, but Maxey wouldn't allow it. With four minutes to go, Maxey launched a deep three on a broken play in front of the Knicks bench to keep the 76ers lead in double figures. But a pair of McBride threes and some timely defense helped the Knicks cut the lead to seven with two minutes remaining.

A big offensive rebound by Paul George and a steal by Edgecombe in the final minutes sealed the game for Philadelphia.

-Embiid, who missed the last meeting, had 26 points with 10 rebounds and five assists. 

-Towns finished 23 points and 14 rebounds while Anunoby (19), Bridges (12) and McBride (20) rounded out the double-digit scoring for New York.

Game MVP: Tyrese Maxey

The young guard willed the 76ers to a win. Whenever the Knicks made their run, Maxey had an answer. 

Highlights

What a feed from KAT to OG 🔥 pic.twitter.com/7rzcE4fWgN

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) January 4, 2026

The bank is open for Deuce McBride! 😅 pic.twitter.com/Uu8eNoE8Xa

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) January 4, 2026

Kevin McCullar Jr. for three 🎯 pic.twitter.com/3XYZczWkMv

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) January 4, 2026

Tyler Kolek! 3️⃣ pic.twitter.com/QDJwsqcpCr

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) January 4, 2026

What's next

The Knicks hit the road after an off day on Sunday. They'll travel to Detroit to take on the No. 1 seed Pistons. Tip is set for Monday at 7 p.m.

Steph Curry, Warriors respond again with win after another early Draymond exit originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO – There’s a trend surrounding the Warriors that’s starting to become more noticeable than their fondness for turnovers.

With two minutes and 25 seconds remaining in the first half and the Warriors struggling in a frustrating second quarter, Draymond Green received two quick technical fouls for an automatic ejection.

Green was loud with his voice and his hands towards umpire Simone Jelks as Kyle Filipowski, whom Green was defending, clearly camped in the paint beyond the allowed three seconds. That resulted in his first tech. 

As Green turned his attention to Jelks, Lauri Markkanen went right past him for a dunk. 

Then came the second tech as Green turned his attention towards referee Kevin Cutler, who nearly instantly felt a verbal line was crossed, sending the 35-year-old back to the Warriors’ locker room for the rest of the game. The Warriors’ response on the court was just as immediate. 

Markkanen made both free throws from Green’s two techs, giving the Jazz a four-point swing and a 12-0 run. They led 60-48 after the two free throws. But whether it was a fire lit inside them or something else, the Warriors outscored the Jazz 10-5 to end the half and by 21 points the rest of the game for a 123-114 win.

Collectively, the Warriors didn’t agree with Green being tossed so quickly. And they won’t lean into the notion that the team is better without him. 

“Nah, hell nah. That ain’t the formula,” Jimmy Butler said. “No, no, no, no, no. We need Two-Three out there. When you’re a man down, you got to pick up everything. It’s generally hard to cover up what he does on both sides of the floor. …It’s so hard to do what he does. But it’s a collective effort when he’s not out there.” 

“I can tell you this: You look at Draymond’s career and he’s on the plus side in a massive way over and over again,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr added.

Nobody can take away Green’s accomplishments in a Golden State jersey. He’s a four-time champion, a future Hall of Famer, one of the most unique players in NBA history and only a handful of guys historically can be mentioned in the same breath as him defensively. 

The numbers, especially over the last month, also unveil a different picture of the current version of Green and the Warriors as a whole. 

Kerr used 11 players Saturday night, and only three had a negative plus/minus. De’Anthony Melton was a minus-3 in 25 minutes off the bench, but he stuffed the stat sheet with 13 points, seven rebounds, three 3-pointers, two assists and two steals. Rookie Will Richard was a minus-1 over 18 minutes in reserve. Both were in the positive in the second half sans Green. 

In 12 minutes before his ejection, Green was a minus-15. Since Dec. 1, he has produced a positive plus/minus twice in 11 games – once against the 12-win Charlotte Hornets, and once against the 10-win Brooklyn Nets. Overall, he now is a minus-65 in that month-long span. 

Green, in his last seven games, has been ejected twice and left the bench early in another. He hasn’t finished three of his last four home games at Chase Center. The Warriors responded to his ejection against the Phoenix Suns and were a plus-16 without him. They then outscored the Orlando Magic by 28 points after his incident with Kerr on the bench. 

Wins for the Warriors followed both times, as well as Saturday night against the Jazz. 

The saving grace one night after a 37-point trouncing from the Oklahoma City Thunder was Steph Curry’s 20-point third quarter, which also was without his running mate of the last 14 years. Curry went into the half with nine points on 2-of-7 shooting and then reeled off his latest vintage third-quarter flurry to the tune of 20 points on 6-of-8 shooting, 4 of 6 on threes and was a plus-11 in 11-plus minutes to give the Warriors a four-point lead going into the fourth quarter. 

Fans were in for a treat during that stretch. Curry pulled off both his signature look-away 3-pointer with the ball in the air in the third quarter, as well as yet another triple nearly from the logo. 

STEPH. DUBS LEAD 👏 pic.twitter.com/QGBBaWv5VY

— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) January 4, 2026

STEPH FROM WAY DEEP 😳 pic.twitter.com/beXKXM52CM

— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) January 4, 2026

Trying to get him to pick between the two was like asking him to choose a favorite of his four children. 

“They’re both great,” Curry said, before repeating the same answer behind a smile. “They’re both great.” 

Tried to get Steph Curry to choose between his signature look-away 3 or logo 3: “They’re both great.” pic.twitter.com/P2rIZeJiYh

— Dalton Johnson (@DaltonJ_Johnson) January 4, 2026

Still serving a show on a nightly basis, Curry’s longtime coach knows where the credit belongs. 

No plays need to be drawn up. Advice would be a laughing matter. Watch him let it fly and reap the rewards. 

“It wasn’t me, it wasn’t my play calls or anything. It was just Steph,” Kerr said. “That’s how good he is. 

“But again, everything felt right in the second half. The spirit, the energy, the level of competitive fight. You’re much more likely to make shots when you have that approach.”

The same spirit, energy, level of competitive fight and approach must be in conjunction with Green on the floor for the Warriors to ride the momentum they believe they’re building right now. It’s the only way to fight the narrative that matches the numbers, enjoying a win without this trend blossoming into something bigger.

Download and follow the Dubs Talk Podcast

Observations after Sixers finish road trip on great note, beat Knicks again  originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

NEW YORK — The Sixers have had quite a sweet start to 2026. 

They finished a five-game road trip with a third consecutive victory Saturday night, earning a 130-119 win over the Knicks at Madison Square Garden.

The Sixers now stand at 19-14. New York fell to 23-12 with its second home loss this season to the Sixers. 

Tyrese Maxey had 36 points, eight rebounds, four assists and two blocks.

Joel Embiid posted 26 points, 10 rebounds and five assists. VJ Edgecombe recorded 26 points, four assists, two steals and two blocks.

Jalen Brunson’s 31 points led the Knicks. Karl-Anthony Towns had a 23-point, 14 rebound double-double.

The Sixers’ only two injury absences remained Kelly Oubre Jr. (left knee LCL sprain) and Trendon Watford (left adductor sprain).

“They’re ready to move to 5-on-5 and we’ve just got to get that done,” Sixers head coach Nick Nurse said pregame. “I would imagine that’s going to happen tomorrow, one way or the other. It’s not easy with all these games and travel to organize it, but they’re both ready to at least get out there and try 5-on-5. And when they do, that’s probably a big step toward getting them back on the court. It should be fairly soon, though.”

New York was down Josh Hart (right ankle sprain) and Landry Shamet (right shoulder sprain). 

Here are observations on the Sixers’ win Saturday night:

Another look at Embiid-Bona pair 

The Sixers had the game’s first three turnovers, including Embiid getting stripped by Mitchell Robinson in the post. 

Embiid otherwise started well vs. Robinson, making an early mid-range jumper and beating the Knicks’ 7-footer inside on an and-one hoop. Robinson committed his second foul on the play. Embiid connected with a cutting Maxey for a lay-in that put the Sixers up 18-13. 

Nurse kept testing out the Embiid-Adem Bona frontcourt and the Sixers were effective with their double-big lineup in the second quarter. Bona rarely does much of note outside the paint, but it’s clear why the Sixers have been intrigued by his skill set next to Embiid. At his best, the 22-year-old is a bouncy, high-energy player who doesn’t need the ball on offense to be impactful. 

“I think that whoever’s playing that four, any of our bigs, we’ve got to have shooting in the other three spots,” Nurse said. “That’s for sure. … Joel likes playing alongside (Bona). I think there’s a good synergy there, so we’ll continue to look at that as we go along.”

Edgecombe not slowing down as scorer

As he had in the Sixers’ Dec. 19 win over the Knicks, Edgecombe served as the primary defender on Brunson. Both guards lit it up in the first half.

The Sixers made an 8-0 run that began late in the first quarter and ended with an Edgecombe three-pointer to kick off the second. About a minute later, Edgecombe nailed his third long-distance jumper on three attempts. No other Sixer made a three until a Jared McCain triple with 7:28 left in the second quarter built the Sixers’ lead to 46-38. 

Edgecombe’s shown fantastic progress lately as an ultra-confident, three-level scorer. Over the past nine games, he’s averaged 21.2 points. The 20-year-old has posted at least 20 points in seven of those outings.  

With Edgecombe running the show and the Sixers more than holding their own, Nurse had the luxury of sitting both Embiid and Maxey for over half of the second quarter. Once they returned, the two helped the Sixers extend their advantage to as many as 19 points in the third quarter. 

Backcourt brilliance seals it for Sixers 

Paul George swished two threes from the right corner in opening minutes of the third period. 

The 35-year-old forward often seemed to be in the background Saturday behind Maxey, Edgecombe and Embiid. He had a very solid night with 15 points on 5-for-11 shooting, eight rebounds, six assists and two chase-down blocks in the second quarter.

Maxey stayed hot in the third, draining deep pull-up jumpers and preventing the Knicks from gaining any comeback momentum for much of the quarter.

The Sixers did hit a dry spell late in the third, but the Knicks missed out on multiple chances to slice their deficit to single digits before the final quarter. They eventually pulled within 100-91 on a Towns driving layup early in the fourth.

With a tremendous Edgecombe sequence, the Sixers halted the Knicks’ push. He jetted to the corner and blocked Mikal Bridges’ three-point attempt, then stormed down the floor and hammered in a fast-break dunk.

Maxey removed most of the lingering suspense with a fourth-quarter shotmaking spree. For good measure, Edgecombe added more highlights in the closing minutes, including a stolen inbounds pass, and the Sixers sealed another excellent victory at the Garden.