PHOENIX, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 07: Amir Coffey #2 of the Phoenix Suns warms up before the game against the Philadelphia 76ers 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
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NBA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Suns fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
The trade deadline has come and gone for the Phoenix Suns, and no splashes were made. And honestly, no splashes were needed.
Across the league, this deadline was shaped less by talent chasing and more by balance sheets. We are three years into the current CBA now, and teams are feeling it. Financial discipline won the week. Phoenix was no different. They moved out $7 million in salary by sending Nick Richards and Nigel Hayes-Davis elsewhere and took back $4.6 million in return. Mission accomplished. Under the luxury tax.
In a Western Conference that is unforgiving and packed with teams trying to separate, the deadline can be a chance to fortify. Add talent. Raise the ceiling. Push chips in for a postseason run. The Suns chose not to do that. Instead, they stayed the course they set back in October. Compete, develop continuity, protect flexibility. Keep the long view intact.
So what does that mean?
Did the Suns get better at the deadline? Did they stay the same? Or did they get worse by standing still while others shuffled pieces around?
That is the question now that the dust has settled and is the subject of this week’s Suns Reacts poll.
Cast your vote below. Then hit the comments and tell me why you landed where you did.
It’s no longer a whisper; the NBA has a brazen and embarrassing tanking problem.
The Utah Jazz closed the third quarter Monday, Feb. 9 against the Miami Heat up by three. They had been dominating Miami in the paint on both ends. Their size was the big reason why.
Forward Jaren Jackson Jr., the prized acquisition Utah made just one week prior, was at 22 points through 25 minutes. Star forward Lauri Markkanen added 17 in 24:38. Veteran center Jusuf Nurkić was a problem all night to the tune of 10 points and 16 rebounds.
Yet, with a victory in sight, Jazz coach Will Hardy took self-sabotage and shameless tanking to a new level, sitting the trio for the entire fourth quarter.
In a twist of karmic justice, Miami was so poor down the stretch that the Jazz somehow overcame a late five-point deficit to win, 115-111.
This was the second consecutive game that Hardy had pulled the stunt. Even worse: it appears this will be Utah’s standard operating procedure moving forward.
After the game, a reporter asked Hardy how close he was to subbing Jackson or Markkanen back in.
This is an existential problem, one NBA commissioner Adam Silver and the Board of Governors must fix. Yes, the draft is expected to feature at least three elite-level players, but if the NBA doesn’t take prompt action, anti-competitive behavior will spread to other teams also looking to manipulate outcomes.
It’s out in the open now, and this will come to stain the last quarter of the season. The product will suffer. And fans, as they should, will flee. As such, the NBA is compromised.
And with the explosive growth of online sports gambling and prediction markets, these actions only invite further cracks in the integrity and competitive balance of the sport.
The NBA’s player participation policy is designed to foil tanks by mandating that teams play their stars with regularity. But the Jazz have found a workaround to the rule. Their impact players start games, they just don’t finish them. And thus, they make a mockery of the policy.
“We’ve got to find a way to win against teams that are, I guess you can say, trying to lose,” Heat center Bam Adebayo told reporters after the game.
Frankly, though Hardy will never admit this publicly, the directive to tank is almost certainly coming from his bosses.
Utah’s 2026 first-round pick is top-eight protected, which means that if the lottery places its selection anywhere from Nos. 1 through 8, the pick stays with the team. If it drops to No. 9 or below, that pick is conveyed to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
And while it makes total economic sense — the good fortune of drafting a franchise-altering player instantly pumps millions in value — the flagrant tanking debases the sport and insults the fan who invests time and capital.
Utah (17-37) isn’t alone. The Washington Wizards (14-38) traded for a pair of veterans, Anthony Davis and Trae Young, who have 14 combined All-Star appearances. They were curious win-now moves for a team that’s currently second-to-last in the East.
Davis and Young were both hurt when they were acquired, and it’s unclear when they’ll make their return — if they do at all.
Young has been dealing with a sprained knee. The timeline for both is nebulous, at best.
Wizards general manager Will Dawkins recently responded to the report and said Davis would return to Dallas to finish his rehab and that he would be reevaluated over the NBA All-Star break.
Davis’ original timeline for a return was four-to-six weeks; Dawkins, though, put it closer to 10.
The Wizards, similar to Utah, have also cycled through young lineups, particularly when facing some of the NBA’s weaker teams.
And also like Utah, Washington’s 2026 first-round pick is top-eight protected.
The Indiana Pacers (13-40) traded for Ivica Zubac, who was away from the Clippers, his former team, for the birth of his first child. Zubac had played in the previous nine games before the trade. Yet, Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said Zubac’s debut with Indiana would be delayed because of a sprained ankle that hadn’t been listed on prior injury reports.
Indiana’s 2026 first-round pick? If you guessed that it was protected, you would be correct, for Nos. 1-4 and 10-30.
The young Brooklyn Nets (15-37) waived Cam Thomas after they couldn’t find a trade partner. They, too, appear to be in tank mode.
The Milwaukee Bucks (21-30) might convince Giannis Antetokounmpo to take his time from his calf strain to preserve their draft positioning.
Same for the Dallas Mavericks (19-33) with Kyrie Irving and his torn anterior cruciate ligament.
The tanking feels like it will get worse. And while the temptation might be to say it’s harmless jockeying, the flip side is that it impacts seeding for the teams actually competing and vying for spots in the playoffs.
In some ways, the timing of the All-Star break is convenient; it provides a respite for Silver and league executives to brainstorm ways to eradicate this from the league.
If they don’t come out strong with precise and targeted measures, then why even play the games? And, if you’re a fan, why even watch?
An exterior view of the Golden 1 Center after they lit the beam after the Sacramento Kings beat the Golden State Warriors in Game 2 of an NBA first-round playoff series in 2023. This series was the Kings' lone playoff appearance in the last 20 years. (Ezra Shaw / Getty Images)
In less than 300 days, baseball’s collective bargaining agreement expires. As major league owners meet this week to plot strategy, the powers that be will consider the probable push for a salary cap. The argument in favor: If teams are limited in how much they can pay players — that is, if the Dodgers cannot spend whatever they want — fans in small markets can believe their team can win.
Tell that to the great fans of Sacramento.
The Kings have the worst record in the NBA. In a league with a salary cap, and in which the majority of teams make the playoffs, the Kings have made the playoffs once in 20 years.
I wanted to ask the Kings how much a salary cap really helps a small-market team, given their struggles. The Kings politely declined interviews on anything related to a salary cap, since they own the minor league ballpark in Sacramento that temporarily houses the Athletics. The Kings’ owner, Vivek Ranadivé, would like MLB to consider Sacramento for an expansion team.
So, before a game last week, I asked Kings fans about the juxtaposition: Why can’t the Kings win in a league with a salary cap intended to help them win?
“I don’t think it’s a salary cap issue,” Cheyenne Merced of Sacramento said. “I think it’s an owner issue.”
Said another fan, Devin Pasua of Sacramento: “The Kings don’t know how to spend.”
In Sacramento, the downtown arena and surrounding entertainment district are enjoyable and energetic without overwhelming fans with an assault of sound and light, and the purple beam that ascends skyward when the Kings win is a nice hometown touch.
Sacramento Kings majority owner Vivek Ranadivé before a 2024 game against the Philadelphia 76ers in Sacramento. (José Luis Villegas / Associated Press)
That beats the alternative: The Kings nearly left town, first for Anaheim and then for Seattle, before Ranadivé bought the team in 2013.
“I’m glad for what he’s done to keep the team in Sacramento,” Kings fan Colin Hutchison of Woodland said. “The arena is beautiful. I love going to games for the chance to see the beam. Great food options. It’s a fun time.
“I think sports fans just want a fun time and want to see competitive sports. The Kings do one thing right. They don’t do the other right.”
In the 20-year run with that one playoff appearance, the Kings have had 10 head coaches, plus three interim head coaches. None of those head coaches lasted more than three seasons.
Eric Musselman, the first Sacramento coach in that run, lasted one season. He is now the head coach at USC.
“In the NBA, there is a salary cap and, for the most part, the same teams are winning every year,” he said.
Does that mean Oklahoma City, the champion last season and the team with the best record this season, is the small-market team that validates the NBA salary cap?
“Oklahoma City is not winning because they have a salary cap,” Musselman said. “Salary cap or no salary cap, Oklahoma City is going to win as long as Sam Presti is there.”
Presti, the Oklahoma City general manager, is basically the Andrew Friedman of NBA executives. Dodgers owner Mark Walter lured Friedman to Los Angeles and, now that Walter owns the Lakers, might well pursue Presti to run them.
Oklahoma City is not the only small-market success story in the NBA. With Gregg Popovich as head coach and R.C. Buford in the front office, the San Antonio Spurs won five NBA championships and made 22 consecutive playoff appearances.
“It’s not the cap,” Musselman said. “It’s having Tim Duncan and David Robinson, and having an owner and a coach and a GM that are aligned.
“You’ve got to find the right coach and have consistency with the coach and roll with him.”
In 13 seasons under Ranadivé, the Kings have had six head coaches and five general managers.
“They have no one to blame but themselves for their futility,” said Grant Napear, the television voice of the Kings for 32 years and now a sports talk host in Sacramento.
Napear cited the same statistic the commissioner’s office now likes to cite: the last small-market team to win the World Series was the Kansas City Royals, 11 years ago. For baseball, he believes, a salary cap would be a good thing, given the gaping revenue disparities among teams.
“Can you really have a sport where two-thirds of your teams have no chance of winning?” he said. “Is that the model of a good professional sports league?”
So, in the NBA model, why do the Kings seemingly have no chance of winning?
“The salary cap gives a team such as Oklahoma City and Indiana the opportunity to do the same thing as a franchise like the Lakers and Knicks,” Napear said, “if you have smart management, if you draft well, and if you make good trades.
“The Kings are playing by the same rules, for all intents and purposes, as the big-market teams. They have been mismanaged. They have made many, many horrible draft picks and horrible trades. That’s the reason why they are where they are: constantly firing coaches, constantly replacing their general managers.
“They have an owner who has been here over a lengthy period of time who really doesn’t do anything right.”
As an owner, it isn’t hard to do the right thing: hire the best people you can, support them however they need, and then stay out of their way.
MLB owners can consider ways to narrow revenue disparities without a salary cap. However, if MLB gets a salary cap — and there is no indication the players’ union is interested in discussing one, let alone agreeing to one — then the commissioner’s office would say it had leveled the playing field.
No team would be guaranteed a winner, but no team could point its finger at the Dodgers. If the player payroll is just about the same for every team, then success would depend in large part on the smarts of ownership and management.
Yet such smarts are not evident among all the teams in the NBA, and certainly not among all the teams in MLB. Would Branch Rickey come back to life to run the Pittsburgh Pirates, with autonomy and resources from ownership?
If you are a fan of a small-market baseball team, and you hear your owner say your team would win if only MLB had a salary cap, our friends in Sacramento would offer you three letters in response: LOL.
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 07: James Harden #1 of the Cleveland Cavaliers celebrates with Donovan Mitchell #45 after making a three-point shot in the fourth quarter against the Sacramento Kings at Golden 1 Center on February 07, 2026 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. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The gravity he provides is incredible. Every step he takes towards the basket with the ball causes each of the off-ball defenders to react. And when he sucks you into a spot to provide a good contest on the shot, the ball is whipped out to the open man.
Head coach Kenny Atkinson said after the win against the Sacramento Kings that he wasn’t going to try to force Harden into his system.
The Cavs are playing Harden’s system right now. They’ve gone from an attack that relies heavily on getting out in transition to one that picks teams apart in the half-court. And the results have been great.
One of the goals in attacking in transition is to take advantage of cross-matchups and to catch the defense off balance. You don’t need to play that chaotically when you have a walking mismatch creator in Harden.
It’s obvious how Harden’s presence would help Mitchell’s scoring.There’s more driving lanes for Mitchell to attack and get downhill. Maybe not as obviously, Harden opens up more room for Mitchell as a passer.
Mitchell, as a facilitator, has been a mixed bag. He has the veloicity and ball placement to make cross-court passes and great drive-and-kick dishes to the corner. However, he hasn’t always had the touch or vision to get bigs involved as much as you’d like.
This combination has made Mitchell an effective playmaker in a fully five-out offense, but has left you wanting more as a passer in most of the contexts the Cavs have put him in.
Harden’s gravity changes that, as seen in the three examples below.
This first play is the result of miscommunication. The Nuggets wanted to keep Nikola Jokic out of the action. Harden threw it to Mitchell, two stayed with Harden, which left Allen wide open.
Players who create as much attention as Harden can cause defenders to do stupid things.
Next, here’s an example of Mitchell finding the open man in a scrambling defense that led to a layup for Jaylon Tyson. The defense will be caught in more rotations if there’s a perimeter player as skilled as Harden that they’re worried about.
Generally speaking, the passing ability hasn’t been the issue for Mitchell. Recognizing the openings has. The increased attention Harden provides should make those reads much easier.
Harden gives you a different dynamic defensively as well. Even though he isn’t a good point-of-attack defender on guards, he can hold his own in the post. This is incredibly useful when you’re going against someone like Jokic.
The help defense Harden was able to provide on Jokic in the post saved the game. He has the size and strength to be bothersome there in a way that other Cavalier guards aren’t. This showed through most when his help defense forced a Jokic turnover on Denver’s third-to-last possession.
Plays like that are just as important as the off-balance three he hit a few seconds after. That shot doesn’t tie the game if it wasn’t for his defense moments earlier.
Allen continues to show how skilled he is offensively. He’s benefited greatly from Harden’s playmaking, but he was also playing well before the trade.
Overall, Allen is showing a level of aggression that makes someone with his skills incredibly difficult to guard. That led to 22 points on 10-16 shooting against Denver.
Allen is a tough matchup for Jokic.
Offensively, Allen’s screening tests Jokic. The Nuggets like to keep Jokic around the rim on screens. That means, if you’re a good screener like Allen, you’re going to create room for your dynamic guards to get uncontested looks.
Anything bought from the links helps support Fear the Sword. You can also shop all of Homage’s Cavs gear HERE. The link to the Donovan Mitchell NBA Jam shirt is HERE.
Defensively, Allen is one of the few centers who can make things relatively difficult for Jokic. Allen did a good job of keeping Jokic in front of him, which allowed the other four defenders to stay more with their assignments.
Allen wasn’t directly responsible for Jokic’s seven turnovers, but it isn’t a coincidence that he was forcing passes into windows that weren’t really there more than he typically does. It also speaks to Jokic’s greatness that the Cavs did a good job containing him on a night he picked up a triple-double.
The Mitchell and Harden pairing couldn’t have gotten off to a better start.
It’s been just two games and they haven’t had any practice time together, but the duo has already done a great job of working off each other’s strengths.
Mitchell plays with the pedal to the floor at all times. Every drive and cut to the basket is made with force. His athleticism and power allow him to get where he wants to on the court, and he has the touch and skill to be one of the best three-level scorers in the league.
If Mitchell is the offense’s fastball, Harden is their 12-6 curve.
Harden’s deliberate, methodical way of picking apart his opponent and creating openings for himself and teammates is the perfect change of pace to Mitchell’s speed.
When they’re working in unison — like they have in their first two fourth quarters together — the offense can be a thing of beauty.
The most tantalizing aspect is that you’d think this is the worst it’s going to look. Is there another gear they can get to? What does this look like with Evan Mobley in the mix?
We’ll have to wait for those answers. In the meantime, we can say that the floor for this pairing is incredibly high. Presumably, the ceiling is as well.
There’s a shakeup among the No. 1 seeds in USA TODAY Sports’ updated bracketology, with Houston rising to the top line to replace Connecticut after the Huskies saw their 18-game win streak end.
Connecticut's 81-72 loss to St. John's at Madison Square Garden was the Huskies’ first since losing to Arizona on Nov. 19. That dropped UConn to eighth in the NET rankings and to 5-2 against Quad 1 competition.
Houston has now taken four in a row, most recently topping Brigham Young 77-66 in Provo, after losing to Texas Tech on Jan. 24. That moved the Cougars within one game of Arizona in the Big 12 standings.
The new No. 1 line is Houston, which joins Arizona, Michigan and Duke.
The Blue Devils retain a No. 1 seed despite a last-second loss at North Carolina. While Duke’s second Quad 1 loss, it still leads Division I with 10 Quad 1 victories.
The rivalry win moves UNC to a No. 4 seed. The Tar Heels are now 19-4 overall and 7-3 in the ACC, 2.5 games behind co-leaders Duke and Clemson, and up to 5-4 in Quad 1 games.
March Madness Last four in
San Diego State, UCLA, Ohio State, Miami (Fla.).
March Madness First four out
New Mexico, Missouri, California, Virginia Tech.
NCAA tournament bids conference breakdown
Multi-bid leagues: Big Ten (11), SEC (10), ACC (8) Big 12 (7), Big East (3), West Coast (3), Mountain West (2).
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - FEBRUARY 09: Moussa Diabate #14 of the Charlotte Hornets fights Jalen Duren #0 of the Detroit Pistons during the second half of a basketball game at Spectrum Center on February 09, 2026 in Charlotte, North Carolina. 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 David Jensen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Detroit Pistons visited the Charlotte Hornets on Monday night and to say things got a bit heated is an understatement.
In the third quarter, Jalen Duren drove to the basket and was fouled by Charlotte’s Moussa Diabate. They got into it and it just spiraled from there as a major brawl broke out. Isaiah Stewart left the bench to get into it, so he’s facing some real trouble.
There were two things that really jumped out to us: the reactions of Kon Knueppel and referee Dannica Mosher.
When the fight started, Knueppel, who often looks a bit sleepy, though his play belies that, was in the corner. He didn’t seem to realize what happened right away and didn’t rush in immediately either. When he did, predictably, he played peacemaker, trying to get his teammate Diabate out of it.
Mosher also hung back, and that’s a different issue.
On the one hand, for the most part, she did what most sensible women would do: she let the guys work it out themselves, and these are particularly large, strong guys, so good call.
But she is an NBA official, and part of her job is to manage things like this. You can’t really blame her, it was entirely rational, but she failed to do her job.
This is not good. Officials need to manage the game and when violence occurs, they have to get it under control. She was clearly not willing to get involved and in fact stepped away.
Mosher is obviously a good referee or she wouldn’t be working NBA games. However, this could have spun out of control and she was nowhere to be found.
Obviously it’s not all on the officials. There are only three of them. They rely on the coaches and their staffs to help them in situations like this.
Still, running away from a fight is a terrible reaction for an official. If the players deserve to be suspended, and they clearly do, Mosher does too for dereliction of duty. Her reaction was entirely unacceptable for an NBA referee.
CHENNAI, India (AP) — The United Arab Emirates won the toss and chose to bat first against New Zealand in a tough Group D game at cricket's T20 World Cup on Tuesday.
New Zealand had already crossed the first hurdle by beating Afghanistan at the same venue in a group that also features 2024 finalist South Africa and Canada.
“It’s a tough group but we are ready for that challenge,” UAE skipper Muhammad Waseem said at the toss.
On the eve of its opening game, UAE sent batter Muhammad Zohaib back home for what it called disciplinary reasons on Monday and the Emirates Cricket Board said it will provide more details "in due course.”
New Zealand made no changes and captain Mitchell Santner said he hoped the red-soiled wicket will have some bounce to suit his three fast bowlers.
De Leede stars in Dutch first win
Earlier at New Delhi, Bas de Leede’s all-round show earned the Netherlands a seven-wicket win over Namibia in Group A.
De Leede grabbed 2-20 as the Dutch used eight bowlers and Namibia scored 156-8. De Leede then smashed four sixes and five boundaries and guided his team to 159-3 in 18 overs with an unbeaten 72 off 48 balls.
Pakistan vs. US
In the night game on Tuesday, Pakistan will take on the United States in Group A.
Pakistan has reversed its decision to boycott the T20 World Cup game against India and was directed to “take the field” in Colombo on Sunday.
___
Lineups:
UAE: Aryansh Sharma, Muhammad Waseem (captain), Alishan Sharafu, Mayank Kumar, Sohaib Khan, Harshit Kaushik, Muhammad Arfan, Dhruv Parashar, Haider Ali, Junaid Siddique, Muhammad Rohid.
New Zealand: Finn Allen, Tim Seifert, Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, Daryl Mitchell, Mark Chapman, James Neesham, Mitchell Santner (captain), Matt Henry, Lockie Ferguson, Jacob Duffy.
DENVER, CO - FEBRUARY 9: Dennis Schröder #8 and Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers looks on during the game against the Denver Nuggets on February 9, 2026 at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado. 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 Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Good morning, it’s Tuesday, February 10th. The Cleveland Cavaliers are 32-21 and beat the Denver Nuggets last night. They are finally done with their West Coast road trip, where they went 4-1, and only have one game before the All-Star break.
It will be a very different Cavs team returning to Cleveland. The last time they played at home, Darius Garland, De’Andre Hunter, and Lonzo Ball were all on the roster. Now? Dennis Schroder, Keon Ellis and James Harden fill their place.
Things change quickly. As of right now, I can’t complain.
Today’s Game of the Day
San Antonio Spurs at Los Angeles Lakers – 10:30, NBA TV
Luka vs Wemby. What more do you need to know?
The Spurs are second in the Western Conference and emerging as real contenders. Meanwhile, the Lakers are still clinging to the hope that Doncic and LeBron James can be enough, even with a lackluster supporting cast. This hasn’t materialized as strongly as LA fans probably hoped. But it still makes them must-see TV on a nightly basis.
The Rest of the NBA Slate
Indiana Pacers at New York Knicks – 7:30 PM
LA Clippers at Houston Rockets – 8 PM
Dallas Mavericks at Phoenix Suns – 9 PM
This is a short but sweet line of basketball games. It’s definitely worth keeping an eye on each game.
Charlotte Hornets' Moussa Diabate (centre, in light blue) called it an "overly competitive game" [Getty Images]
Four players were ejected after a mass brawl as the Detroit Pistons beat the Charlotte Hornets 110-104 in a bad-tempered NBA fixture.
Detroit's Jalen Duren was fouled by Charlotte's Moussa Diabate during the third quarter, with the pair then confronting one another and appearing to butt heads.
Diabate had to be held back as he tried to hit Duren, before several other players got involved in the incident.
Detroit forward Isaiah Stewart confronted Charlotte's Miles Bridges and put him in a headlock before appearing to strike him multiple times.
The brawl lasted about 30 seconds, ending with a brief police presence on the floor.
Diabate, Duren, Stewart and Bridges were ejected - and Hornets coach Charles Lee was kicked out in the fourth quarter after he had to be restrained while angrily shouting at the officials having disagreed with a decision.
"Emotions were flaring. At the end of the day, we would love to keep it basketball, but things happen. Everybody was just playing hard," Duren said after the match.
"This isn't the first time that people have tried to be like extra aggressive with us and talk to us, whatever the case may be.
"At the end of the day, emotions got high with everybody being competitive. Things happen."
Bridges later apologised to fans, writing on Instagram: "Sorry Hornets nation! Sorry Hornets Organization! Always going to protect my team-mates forever."
Lead official John Goble said in a post-game report the players were ejected because they "engaged in fighting activity during the dead ball".
"After review, we assessed fighting fouls, and by rule, they were ejected from the game," he added.
Lee, asked about the clash between Diabate and Duren that triggered the wider brawl, said: "Two guys got in a heated conversation and then it kind of spiralled from there."
Of his own ejection in the fourth quarter, Lee added: "I've got to have a little bit better emotional control in that moment."
Elsewhere, Golden State Warriors' Steph Curry will miss Sunday's All-Star game with an injury to his right knee.
However, the Warriors are hopeful Curry will return after the All-Star break for the game against the Boston Celtics on 19 February.
After losing to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday, the Lakers (32-20) are back at it on their home floor on Tuesday when they take on the San Antonio Spurs (36-16). This is the final match between the teams this season.
Tuesday’s game against the Spurs might just be the toughest game for the Lakers this season. It’s on the second night of a back-to-back against the current second-best team in the Western Conference that’s not only healthy but has already beaten the purple and gold twice this season.
This has schedule loss written all over it.
But that’s not to say that it’s certain that the Lakers won’t try to win this game. They’re going to compete and it’ll be a matter of gutting this one out against Victor Wembanyama — who is averaging 23.9 points, 11.1 rebounds and 2.7 blocks this season — De’Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle and crew. The same squad that blew out the Lakers twice in their last three games. They will also be coming off two days of rest before Tuesday’s game.
In the lone game the Lakers won against the Spurs this season, they limited Wembanyama’s production. They did that by getting him into foul trouble before he eventually fouled out. That was the same game when the Lakers threw the kitchen sink on Wemby, thus allowing Deandre Ayton to outplay him.
This was obviously no longer the case in their most recent battle, when Wemby got his revenge on Ayton and the team. But besides him, it’s actually the Spurs’ role players that have also given the Lakers a lot of trouble this season.
Los Angeles has yet to find an answer for San Antonio’s speedy, athletic and dynamic guards in Fox, Keldon Johnson, Julian Champagnie and Castle, all who have stood out in their last few battles. If this continues, then the Lakers’ chances of winning will be slim to none.
Without Luka Dončić, the Lakers will have to rely on LeBron James and Austin Reaves — who are also uncertain for this one — and will need extraordinary performances from their role players. Note that the Spurs are a top-three defensive team. They have an elite rim protector in Wemby who will surely attempt to limit the Lakers’ scoring inside the paint. This game will be a test for the Lakers of their creativity on offense and whether their improved defense of late is good enough against a top-10 offensive team.
Let’s see if the Lakers can quickly bounce back against the Spurs on Tuesday.
Notes and Updates
Since the Lakers are playing on a back-to-back, the injury report for this one won’t be released until a few hours before tip-off. However, expect Adou Thiero (right MCL sprain) to be out.
For the Spurs, only Lindy Waters III is unavailable.
LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 9: Marcus Smart #36 of the Los Angeles Lakers dribbles the ball during the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on February 9, 2026 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, 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 Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Lots of Baby Lakers have come and gone throughout the years with fans able to cheer them along from afar. But something about Alex Caruso is different.
It likely comes down to the fact that it was a self-inflicted mistake that led to him leaving the Lakers, but it just has a different feeling. It’s still painful to see him in a different jersey. I could be alone in that feeling, but watching him lead the Thunder in the second half and fourth quarter felt like a particularly fresh wound being reopened by a jagged, rusty knife.
Just a lot of pain.
Even despite his performance and the strong close from Jalen Williams, the Lakers were in this game. Moral victories don’t account for much, but considering how bad things went in the last meeting between these two teams, it’s encouraging to see the gap closed.
So, let’s dive into the loss. As always, grades are based on expectations for each player. A “B” grade represents the average performance for that player.
The bully ball LeBron played in the second half, specifically the third quarter, was a big catalyst in the Lakers’ comeback. He was picking on defenders, getting them switched onto him and then putting them in the rim or kicking otu to open looks.
That the Lakers couldn’t get back to that in the fourth was a problem.
For the most part, I thought this was as good a game as Ayton has played in some time. And yet, he still didn’t close the game, which is pretty telling.
LaRavia played a huge role in the third quarter alongside LeBron. However, his night is probably going to be remembered for the multiple missed open threes in the fourth.
This was just a little bit too much Marcus Smart. You probably don’t want him finishing with the second-most shot attempts in a game, even if he was largely good on the night.
Reaves really struggled against the defensive pressure at times against OKC. He also seemed to be the chosen victim of a number of missed calls, leading to a totally valid crashout and technical foul early in the game.
It must be nice to be a Thunder fan as you get to watch your team play rugby while everyone else plays basketball. Yes, I’m a little salty.
You saw the good that Kennard brings in his debut, but you saw the bad he can bring in this one. When he was in the game, OKC was targeting him repeatedly, especially down the stretch. He competed hard, but the size discrepancy is just too large.
Hayes had a couple of nice finishes around the rim. I suppose we should just be used to four rebounds in 14 minutes for a seven-footer, even if it still feels low.
Grade: B
Maxi Kleber
A very short cameo for Kleber, who did not have the foot speed to hang with the Thunder in this one.
JJ Redick
This is one of those nights where it’s hard to determine who to blame for the Lakers not getting LeBron the ball down the stretch. I lean toward the players as they were running some of the actions, then trhowing some pretty brutal passes or not getting him the ball at all.
Redick won both challenges, but they were both very easy challenges to win. Thanks, officials.
DALLAS, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 12: Cooper Flagg #32 of the Dallas Mavericks is defended by Jordan Goodwin #23 of the Phoenix Suns during a game at American Airlines Center on November 12, 2025 in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) | Getty Images
A wise man once said, “the road goes on forever, and the party never ends.” Well for the Dallas Mavericks (19-33, 12th in the Western Conference), the road is certainly going on forever, as they will not play at home again until Feb. 26. As for the party, well that depends on what your definition of a good time is. These Mavericks have lost seven in a row, which has catapulted them up the Tankathon standings. The losses are great for those who are firmly looking forward to the NBA Draft this summer, but without a doubt are wearing on a lot of people, too.
In order to get off the proverbial schneid, the Mavericks will have to beat the shockingly decent Phoenix Suns (31-22, seventh in the Western Conference) in the valley of the sun. The Suns also lost on Saturday evening, as the Sixers were able to win by the final of 109-103. Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey combined for 62 points in the win, while Devin Booker’s 21 points and nine assists were not enough to complete a comeback win.
What should you be looking for as the game progresses? Here’s a few things to know.
Immovable force vs stoppable object
<p>*Record Scratch* (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)</p><br> | Getty Images
You know the saying of “bug, meet windshield”? Well, that could be the case in this contest. The Suns are one of the best home teams in the entire NBA, having gone 17-9 against the spread at home. At 65.4%, that is the second-best cover percentage in the NBA, behind the New York Knicks at 70.4%. The Mavericks, meanwhile, are a dreadful road team. The Mavericks have won just five road games this entire season and are dead last in the NBA against the spread as the road team at just 33%. As I said prior to the Warriors at Mavs game a few weeks ago, games are not played on paper. But the sheet of paper here is pretty telling.
Cooper Flagg, problem solver
(Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It was very cool to watch Cooper Flagg over the back-to-back set against the Spurs. Even though the Mavericks lost rather handily in both games, you could see Cooper Flagg evolving over the course of the games. In the first half on Thursday, Flagg was tentative going into the lane against Wembanyama, as most players are. But then you look up in the fourth quarter, and he’d scored 20 second half points on excellent efficiency. Sunday was a bit different, as the Mavericks were thoroughly beaten from the jump, but even then, you could still see the vision. It’s a joy to watch the young man work, and this game against a lesser Phoenix team should allow for some more fun.
Dillon Brooks, more than just a villain
(Photo by Kate Frese/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Let’s wrap this up by giving props to Dillon Brooks. For most of his career, Brooks has made his living by just being a pest. It was his whole identity in Memphis, which ended up being his demise. In Houston, they asked him to do more offensively, which helped him build to where he is now in Phoenix. Brooks is averaging over 21 points per game, by far the best number of his career. Phoenix wouldn’t be where they are now without him providing the offensive juice that he does.
How to watch
Tipoff is scheduled for just after 8 p.m. from the Mortgage Matchup Center (that can’t be a real company, can it?) in Phoenix. The game will be televised locally on Mavs TV.
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Toumani Camara scored a career-high 30 points and shot 8 of 10 from 3-point range, Deni Avdija had 26 points and 10 rebounds and the Portland Trail Blazers used a huge third quarter to cruise to a 135-118 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers, who played without Joel Embiid on Monday night.
Jerami Grant and Donovan Clingan each added 15 points for the Trail Blazers, who trailed 65-64 at halftime before outscoring the 76ers 49-22 in the third to take control.
Embiid, who scored 33 points in a win at Phoenix on Saturday night, sat out against Portland to rest his right knee after an off day. Tyrese Maxey had 30 points and Kelly Oubre Jr. 19 for the 76ers, who wrapped up a 3-2 Western road trip and lost for just the second time in eight games overall.
Philadelphia took a 67-64 lead coming out of halftime on Andre Drummond's layup, but the 76ers never led again.
Grant made a 3-pointer to tie it and Avdija — who sat out last Saturday in a win against Memphis with a back ailment — followed with a 3 of his own to put Portland ahead. That set off an 18-4 run that was capped by another 3 by Avdija to make it 82-69.
The Trail Blazers took their biggest lead of the game at 28 points on Robert Williams III's 3-pointer with 29 seconds left in the third to put Portland up 113-85.
Scoot Henderson, who sat out last Saturday with a left hamstring ailment after making his season debut for the Trail Blazers the previous night, returned and had 12 points and seven assists.
Portland finished 22 of 54 from 3-point range.
Up next
76ers: Host the New York Knicks on Wednesday night.
Trail Blazers: Play at Minnesota on Wednesday night.
PORTLAND, OREGON - FEBRUARY 09: Marjon Beauchamp #16 of the Philadelphia 76ers shoots a free throw during the fourth quarter against the Portland Trail Blazers at the Moda Center on February 09, 2026 in Portland, Oregon. The Portland Trail Blazers won 135-118. 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 Alika Jenner/Getty Images) | Getty Images
2025-26 Sixers Bell Ringer standings: Tyrese Maxey – 19 Joel Embiid – 9 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 finished their road trip 3-2 after dropping the final matchup to the Trail Blazers 135-118.
The Sixers entered the night without Quentin Grimes (illness) and Jabari Walker (two-way days), and saw late scratches for both Dominick Barlow (illness) and Joel Embiid (right knee management).
Despite being thin on reinforcements, the Sixers played a very strong offensive first half and led Portland 65-64 at the break.
Unfortunately for anyone who stayed awake to see it, the Sixers took the floor in the third quarter with a visibly lowered desire to play strong basketball.
Whether it was the physical Suns matchup on Saturday, the fact its the last stop of a seven-day West Coast swing, or the insane shooting put on display by the Blazers, the Sixers intensity faded on offense and they slowed down considerably on the defensive end.
They were outscored 49-22 in the third and went down by 31 points at one point in the fourth quarter.
Therefore, our Bell Ringer nominees will be highlighting play from the first half — with one exception.
Maxey finished the first half with 16 points on 6-of-12 shooting from the field, doing most of his work in the paint. In the first quarter, Maxey showed off his pace-changing ability with a midrange pull-up. A couple possessions later, he displayed a rare Euro-step around Donovan Clingan for an easy two. Later in the frame, Drummond found a cutting Maxey for an easy two, and finished a chaotic possession with a swift layup.
At the end of the quarter, Maxey finished in transition off of a Oubre Jr. steal, and put down a ridiculous lefty scoop shot to tie things up at 29- 29. He played the entire first quarter.
Maxey leads all scorers with 13 and the Sixers withstood a red-hot start for the Blazers to take a 31-29 lead after one. pic.twitter.com/qUr3h16GtO
In the second, he got a floater to fall after receiving a nice pass from MarJon Beauchamp and was operating the offense by attracting extra defenders on drives.
Oubre also finished the first half with 16 points and played the entire first quarter. His shooting continues to keep the Sixers afloat amidst Maxey’s three-point struggles.
His defensive impact should have been larger as the Sixers failed to convert on multiple turnovers in the first half, but nabbed four steals and a block before the break.
He was very aggressive with his drives, leading to multiple trips to the free throw line.
Monday saw the first Sixers action for Beauchamp due to the suddenly thin depth, and made an instant impact with a beautiful wrap-around pass for a Drummond three.
Sharpshooter Drum off the nice feed from MarJon Beauchamp in his first game as a Sixer. pic.twitter.com/FsWDrGwDrv
Later in the frame he assisted on a Justin Edwards three and a cutting Maxey layup after grabbing an offensive rebound.
Our second half exception is for Beauchamp’s first points as a Sixer, which came in the third off a slick pass from Drummond as he was cutting from the top of the arc.
The game has gotten out of hand, but Beauchamp gets his first bucket as a Sixer pic.twitter.com/ujWz6v18w1
In the fourth quarter, he nailed his first three as a Sixer on the left wing despite a strong closeout from Vít Krejčí, and forced a trio of steals that led to easy points.
In just 20 minutes, Beauchamp made the most of his opportunity and did not let the scoreboard dictate his effort, unlike some of his teammates.
The Lakers fight for an offensive rebound during their loss to the Thunder on Feb. 9.
LOS ANGELES — Lakers coach JJ Redick warned his team about the dangers of turning the ball over against the reigning NBA champions, the Oklahoma City Thunder.
After struggling with ball security for half of Monday night’s matchup at Crypto.com Arena, the Lakers cleaned things up.
But what the Lakers struggled with throughout was securing defensive rebounds against a Thunder team that thrives with capitalizing on any margins provided to them, leading to the Lakers falling to the Thunder 119-110 on the first night of their home back-to-back set.
After struggling to take care of the ball, turning the ball 10 times for 20 Oklahoma City points that helped the Thunder take a game-best 14-point lead in the second quarter, the Lakers only turned the ball over five times in the second half for three Oklahoma City points.
But the Lakers didn’t overcome the Thunder widening their margins on the offensive glass, with Oklahoma City scoring 24 second-chance points.
LeBron James led the Lakers with 22 points, 10 assists and six rebounds, his third consecutive game with a points-assists double-double.
The Lakers fight for an offensive rebound during their loss to the Thunder on Feb. 9. NBAE via Getty Images
Marcus Smart scored 19 points, while Austin Reaves had 16 points and seven assists off of the bench.
What it means
The Lakers dropped to 32-20 in the loss, staying at the No. 5 spot in the Western Conference standings after having a chance to move up to No. 4.
Their three-game winning streak also ended.
The Lakers haven’t won more than three games in a row since late November.
Turning point
When Cason Wallace grabbed the offensive rebound at the 5:04 mark in the fourth quarter that led to a Jalen Williams layup to put the Thunder up 102-99 with just over five minutes left.
Up to that point in the game, the Lakers and Thunder were looking to create separation after both teams went on runs to create significant leads.
Cason Wallace looks to move the ball during the Thunder’s win over the Lakers on Feb. 9. AP
But the Thunder’s advantage on the glass in that moment encapsulated a night-long trend of Oklahoma City winning around the margins.
The Lakers didn’t have another for the remainder of the game, trailing by at least three points for the final five minutes.
MVP: Isaiah Joe
During a game in which both teams were missing their MVP candidates, the result was going to come down to which role players were going to step up.
Joe did that for the Thunder early with his 3-point shooting and cuts to the basket, helping the Thunder take a 31-30 lead after the first quarter and a 67-58 lead going into halftime.
He scored nine points, all 3-pointers, in the first quarter and seven in the second. He finished the game with 19 points on 6-of-13 shooting.
Stat of the game: 10
That’s how many more second-chance points the Thunder scored than the Lakers, having a 24-14 advantage for the game.
Oklahoma City grabbed five more offensive rebounds than the Lakers, and were more successful with making those extra scoring opportunities count.
Up next
The Lakers will close out their back-to-back set when they host the Spurs on Tuesday night.
The Spurs, who are No. 2 in the West standings, are on a four-game winning streak and have won nine of their last 12 games.
