Category: Basketball

As long as Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves are playing, the Lakers always stand a good chance of winning — even if LeBron James is out.

That proved to be the case yet again Sunday night at Crypto.com Arena as the Lakers rolled over the injury-depleted New Orleans Pelicans 133-121 with James out managing a left foot injury.

The Lakers (15-4) won their seventh straight game behind Doncic’s 34 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists and Reaves’ 33 points and eight assists.

Read more:Former Lakers star Anthony Davis makes long-awaited return to L.A. after trade

The Lakers have a game Monday against the visiting Phoenix Suns, but it's unclear if James will play.

James missed the first 14 games of this season with sciatica and has played in just four games. Left foot injury management also kept him out of some games last season.

"It's something we've had to manage,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said. “Given the back-to-back and the fact that he's basically just coming off his training camp — this has been his training camp over the last 10 days or so — [we're] just being cautious."

With James in his 23rd NBA campaign at age 40, it remains to be seen how many back-to-back games he will play this season. The Lakers have 10 sets left after Monday.

"No, we're going to build him up, hopefully, to be able to play in back-to-backs,” Redick said. “That's the goal. But you are correct. Every back-to-back is a case-by-case. That's just the reality of the NBA right now. But we want him to be able to play in back-to-backs. So does he. So, we're going to work toward that.”

The 15-4 Lakers have 63 regular-season games left, meaning that James can miss only two more if he wants to reach the NBA minimum of 65 games that players need to appear in to earn postseason awards. James has made a league-record 21 straight All-NBA teams.

Redick said individual postseason awards have “never come up as something that’s important" in his discussions with James.

“I want all my guys to get whatever award they deserve,” Redick said. “Of course, I want, you know, Austin, Luka, LeBron, like whoever, I want them to get awards. That's great for them, but ... the list of things that you have to worry about and think about as a player and coach, it's so far down the list.”

The Lakers scored 77 points in the first half against New Orleans, tying the most points they have scored in any half this season, and they scored 46 points in the first quarter, the most they have scored in any frame this season.

It figured to be an easy night for the Lakers, who also got 22 points and 12 rebounds from Deandre Ayton, with the Pelicans (3-18) missing starters and key role players, including Zion Williamson, who was managing a left hamstring injury.

Lakers guard Marcus Smart missed his second straight game with back spasms.

Read more:Austin Reaves helps Lakers and Luka Doncic notch win over Mavericks

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

If OG Anunoby’s rehab continues to progress well, it sounds like he’ll be back on the court before the end of the calendar year. 

Anunoby will obviously return to the starting lineup whenever he’s ready to play. 

Who will be the fifth starter when Anunoby comes back? That’s less clear. But Josh Hart continues to make a strong case to start. 

He had 20 points on 12 shots, pulled down 12 rebounds (five offensive) and tallied seven assists in New York’s win over Toronto on Sunday. He’s shooting 65 percent on threes in his four games as a starter (20 attempts); he’s averaging of 11.8 rebounds and seven assists per game in that span. 

Knicks coach Mike Brown seems very happy with Hart’s impact as a starter. He criticized himself for his usage of Hart early in the season – and credited the veteran with how he handled it. 

“Especially our first three losses, I'll take the hit on that,” Brown said of Hart’s early-season role. “…The tough part was even backing up further, [Hart] didn't really play in the preseason, he didn't even really practice in the preseason. So, for me, I was behind the eight ball and was really trying to figure out how to incorporate him with what we're trying to do. It just took time and he was extremely patient with the process. 

“We have a standard and that's that contract that everybody signed (that hangs in the Knick locker room) and it's about sacrifice, connectivity, competitive spirit, but then a belief in each other, but just as much as that, have a belief in the process. Josh was huge on two of those things. His sacrifice was unbelievable because when I took him out, he just sat. When I called his number, he went out and played, but more importantly, his belief in the process, even if he thought I was wrong, was awesome. 

"When you're a leader, you have to show that or embrace those types of things more than everybody else cause you got to set the example and if somebody steps out of the realm of what our standard is because you did it as a leader, now you can tell them, ‘Hey, come back over here because we all got to do this. I had to go through it, you may have to go through it, this guy may have to go through it.’ So, he's a special player, but he's also a great human being to be around.”

Hart’s play in the third quarter on Sunday was key; he had 13 points, four rebounds, an assist and a steal in the quarter. He hit three threes – two of which came after Toronto cut New York’s lead to six midway through the quarter.  

“He did a really good job of playmaking, rebounding and he was, in my opinion the best player on the court,” Raptors coach Darko Rajakovic said. So, it will be really interesting for us to watch the film and, like I said, get ready for the next game.”

The Knicks play the Raptors in Toronto on Dec. 9 in the NBA Cup quarterfinals. The winner goes to Las Vegas for the NBA Cup semifinals. 

BRUNSON IMPRESSES OPPOSITION

Jalen Brunson didn’t have a strong shooting night on Sunday but he contributed in other ways (seven assists, six rebounds - two offensive). He also continues to get off the ball when teams throw two defenders at him. 

Rajakovic tried to send two Raptors at Brunson on Sunday during different stretches of the game. 

Before the game, Rajakovic shared some detailed thoughts on Brunson’s impact. 

“He is the type of player that I can put in the category of Luka Doncic, Nikola Jokic – different position, obviously. But guys who are just playing at their own pace. You cannot speed them up. Their awareness is amazing.,” Rajakovic said early Sunday. “At any point of time they know where the hand of the defensive player is. What is the footwork, how can they get by somebody, how can they get to their sweet spot from the floor. How can they score from there, how can they playmake from there. 

"And he’s elite at doing it. He’s not the strongest, not the fastest, but his skill level and shooting ability is amazing and that makes him one of the biggest offensive weapons in the league.”

Brown said on Friday that Brunson isn’t getting enough attention as an early-season MVP candidate. 

The Knick coach shared more thoughts on the topic before Sunday’s game. 

“It’s not necessarily about (height); it’s about what you bring to the table,” Brown said in response to a question about MVPs at Brunson’s height. “It’s still early and we’re in the top part of the eastern conference. And the numbers he’s putting up are pretty good. I don’t know exactly how they compare to others across the board that are in the top 3, 4 spots in the East and West. (And) I don’t see it all the time but when I see people talking (about MVP candidates), or I see lists, I never see him. 

"And I’m amazed at the lack of attention that he gets for what he’s done in this league already. And what he continues to do, night in and night out. Especially when he’s the guy on a team that’s in a pretty good spot in their conference."

If you’ve been watching the Knicks over the past four years, you know how Brunson’s footwork around the basket is a huge part of his offensive success. 

Brown was asked about Brunson’s footwork and he put the Knick All-Star in elite company. 

“I’ve been fortunate, blessed, lucky to be around a bunch of great players and Jalen’s footwork around the basket - especially for his size - is probably second to none. His footwork is really good,” Brown said. “I’ll probably get killed for saying this but Kobe’s footwork was really good, and I’m not saying Jalen’s Kobe or vice versa, their patience, their footwork in that painted area is at an extremely high level and not many guys have that.”

The Knicks built an early 24-point lead, and after a rough second quarter, bounced back to pull away for a 116-94 win over the Toronto Raptors on Sunday night.

Here are some takeaways...

-- Making his seventh start of the season, Miles McBride hit four three-pointers in the first five minutes of the game to put the Knicks up on the Raptors. Following his fourth three, McBride had made 14 of his last 17 attempts from beyond the arc (h/t Fred Katz). The hot hand started to spread as Jalen Brunson hit his first three-pointer of the night, scored inside, and hit a baseline jump shot. 

Josh Hart was then left unguarded at the three-point line and took it in for an easy two-hand slam as New York took a 32-17 lead and Toronto called a timeout with just under three minutes left in the first quarter. Clarkson hit two straight three-pointers and forced another timeout, but it didn't help, as Guerschon Yabusele buried the Knicks' ninth three of the first quarter. They led 41-22 thanks to shooting 64 percent from deep (9-for-14) compared to the Raptors' 13 percent (1-for-8).

-- Tyler Kolek was all over the place to start the second quarter, grabbing an offensive rebound, scoring inside, and getting a steal. Hart kept the impressive shooting going with the team's tenth three of the game, but Scottie Barnes made three straight three-pointers of his own, causing Mike Brown to talk things over with his group. The Raptors continued on a 14-0 run to cut the lead to 10 points before McBride hit a jumper.

After Sandro Mamukelashvili and Toronto made it a five-point game, the Knicks grabbed three consecutive offensive rebounds and finally capitalized with Mikal Bridges hitting his second three-pointer of the game. Brunson shook off a cold quarter with an and-one jumper and then got a steal, leading to a Hart bucket inside to push the lead back to double digits.

-- Barnes dunked it with a second left as the Raptors won the second quarter, 30-18, and trailed by just seven points, 59-52, at halftime. The Knicks' hot three-point shooting disappeared in the second quarter, going 2-for-14 from deep. McBride still led the team with 14 points, while Brunson had 10 and Barnes paced Toronto with 16 points, including a perfect 4-for-4 from three.

-- Former Knick Immanuel Quickly scored five straight for the Raptors in the third quarter before Brunson countered with a scoop, and-one layup. Quickly then started chirping at Brunson and hit two more three-pointers to cut New York's lead to five points. He finished with 19 points for the game.

-- Hart stepped up in the third and scored eight straight points, including back-to-back threes. Bridges dunked it on the fastbreak to ignite the team and go up 84-68 with four minutes left in the quarter as New York continued on a 16-1 run to grow their lead back. Hart made another three-pointer with under a minute remaining to give him 20 points and the Knicks led 93-77 after three quarters.

-- Kolek connected with Clarkson and Karl-Anthony Towns for big dunks early on in the fourth quarter, while Brandon Ingram made back-to-back threes to keep the Raptors close. Mitchell Robinson showed hustle and grabbed multiple offensive rebounds, but missed his foul shot and Towns recorded an O-board of his own and scored inside. KAT then made his first three-pointer of the game to push the NY lead to 23 points, 106-83, with seven minutes left in the contest.

The Knicks were able to empty the bench for the final 3:37 and held on to win, 116-94. Towns shook off early shooting struggles to lead the team in scoring with 22 points, while Brunson finished with 18 points on 6-for-19 shooting. New York dominated the rebounding battle, 61-40, including 25 offensive rebounds (seven from Robinson) -- their most in a game since 2019.

Game MVP: Josh Hart

Hart was all over the place against the Raptors, giving the Knicks much-needed energy in the third quarter after a bad end to the first half. He finished with 20 points, including four three-pointers, 12 rebounds, seven assists, and three steals.

Highlights

Deuce pulls up and nails the three 🎯

(via @nyknicks) pic.twitter.com/31CIkfOlWQ

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) November 30, 2025

KAT gets the contested bucket to go 😤

(via @nyknicks) pic.twitter.com/PPWsDnHcmL

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) November 30, 2025

Jordan Clarkson for three! 👌

(via @nyknicks) pic.twitter.com/mfYabub5aD

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) November 30, 2025

Defense 🤝 Offense

(via @nyknicks) pic.twitter.com/dn3gdG404J

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) November 30, 2025

KAT 😤😤😤

(via @nyknicks) pic.twitter.com/XhejNsBe1l

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) December 1, 2025

MIKAL STEAL AND SLAM 💥

(via @nyknicks) pic.twitter.com/9HDE4BtrLZ

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) December 1, 2025

Kolek ➡️ KAT

(via @nyknicks) pic.twitter.com/jvlOivroeH

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) December 1, 2025

What's next

The Knicks travel up to Boston to face the Celtics on Tuesday night at 8:00 p.m.

Kings coach Doug Christie expects rookie Maxime Raynaud's minutes to increase originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SACRAMENTO – One of the Kings’ biggest weaknesses was on full display Sunday night at Golden 1 Center.

With Domantas Sabonis sitting out a seventh consecutive game due to a partially torn meniscus in his left knee, the Memphis Grizzlies rolled into town and rolled straight through the heart of Sacramento’s interior defense on the way to a 115-107 win that was a lot less close than the score indicated thanks to a late surge by the home town team.

By then, however, it was apparent to everyone in the stands and watching on television: The Kings without Sabonis are simply a team ripe for the picking.

Grizzlies’ big man Zach Edey found that out the easy way, dropping a career-high 32 points to go with 17 rebounds (the Kings had only 34 as a team), anchoring a Memphis offense that scored 62 points in the paint.

Because the Kings don’t yet have a clear timetable on when Sabonis might be back, this is an issue they’ll undoubtedly be facing for some time.

Andrew Eubanks has started in place of Sabonis and has been decent but far from dominant, so coach Doug Christie might have to reach a little deeper down his bench for help.

Specifically, rookie Maxime Raynaud.

The 7-foot-1 center fouled out against the Grizzlies but put together a decent stat line before doing so. He scored nine points on 3-of-7 shooting and had six rebounds, three assists and a blocked shot in nearly 23 minutes.

It was far from Raynaud’s best game of the season but was indicative of what he’s capable of.

The rookie wasn’t made available to talk to the media Sunday, so Christie was asked for his view.

“Max has done a great job,” Christie said. “He comes in, he’s highly attentive to the game plan, trying to execute the game plan at a high level, understanding. He communicates really well.”

Getting an up-close first-hand look at Edey, who had a monster game, is part of the learning process for Raynaud. Christie believes his young rookie will be the better for it.

“He’s a young player so when it comes to leverage and physicality and some different things that he is learning right before our very eyes … that can be tough,” Christie said. “Especially with a big guy like Zach Edey and Jared Jackson Jr. These guys are huge, but he’s beginning to hold his own, and you can see that the game is slowing down for him. As it slows down and he continues to improve, his minutes are going to go up.”

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Observations after Sixers lose wild double-overtime game in Embiid's return  originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

In their 19th game of the season, the Sixers had Joel Embiid, Paul George and Tyrese Maxey all available for the first time. 

They wound up playing their first double-overtime game of the season and losing it, falling to a high-drama 142-134 defeat to the Hawks at Xfinity Mobile Arena.

The Sixers now sit at 10-9, Atlanta at 13-8. 

Tyrese Maxey had 44 points, nine assists and seven rebounds. Quentin Grimes posted 28 points. Following a nine-game absence with a right knee injury, Embiid recorded 18 points, four rebounds and two assists in a season-high 30 minutes.

Jalen Johnson starred for the Hawks with 41 points, 14 rebounds and seven assists. Nickeil Alexander-Walker scored 34 points.

The Sixers were still without Kelly Oubre Jr. (left knee LCL sprain) and Trendon Watford (left adductor strain).

Atlanta was down Trae Young (right knee MCL sprain) and Kristaps Porzingis (illness). 

The Sixers will face the Wizards on Tuesday night in Philadelphia. Here are observations on their double-OT loss to Atlanta:

Embiid back at it

Embiid sunk a jumper from the right elbow on the Sixers’ first possession of the night. 

He didn’t seem to struggle much with pace or physicality, although Embiid’s rust was evident at times. The seven-time All-Star was whistled for an early travel when he faked a dribble handoff and walked with the ball in the process. 

The Hawks scored a few first-quarter floaters against Embiid in drop coverage and he didn’t have a good rebounding game, but his mobility generally appeared fine. For the most part, Embiid was willing and able to close out to the perimeter, accelerate on his drives and do whatever the situation dictated. 

Meanwhile, VJ Edgecombe was sharp out of the gates following a three-game absence with a left calf injury, making a transition three-pointer and fast-break layup. Sixers head coach Nick Nurse called timeout at the 5:59 mark of the first quarter with his team up 14-11. Embiid and Edgecombe took a seat. 

Maxey’s foul drawing

Neither team fared well beyond the arc in the early going. Atlanta began 0 for 9 from three-point range and the Sixers opened 2 for 10. 

Individually, Maxey had a subpar shooting start against Hawks defensive stalwart Dyson Daniels. He also committed four turnovers in the first half. With Daniels’ knack for gliding around screens and snagging steals, it didn’t seem as easy as usual for Maxey to trust his instincts. 

Maxey did manage to draw seven free throws in the first half and made six. He knocked down a pair with 3.9 seconds left in the second quarter to give the Sixers a 58-57 edge.

Improved foul drawing has been a valuable piece of Maxey’s superstar play early in his sixth season. Even when his jumpers aren’t dropping and defenses are determined to limit his space, Maxey so often finds ways to keep the scoreboard moving. He’s scored at least 20 points in all 19 games.

Double-OT drama 

Andre Drummond replaced Embiid in the first quarter, but he wound up playing only six minutes after suffering a right knee contusion Friday in the Sixers’ victory over the Nets. Adem Bona served as Embiid’s backup the rest of the night.

While he resumed his sixth man duties, Grimes started the second half in Edgecombe’s spot. Edgecombe logged 21 minutes in his return.

Like Maxey, Grimes drew regular free throws Sunday. Grimes reached his sixth 20-point game of the season late in the third quarter when he pump faked a corner three, drove along the baseline and jammed in a dunk. A tightly guarded Grimes three with 1.6 seconds to go in the third put the Sixers up 89-83.

Embiid entered to start the fourth quarter and the Sixers endured a major dry spell. Embiid missed two jumpers. A Maxey giveaway led to an Alexander-Walker layup. Turnovers suddenly popped up everywhere for the Sixers, who had five during a 13-0 Atlanta run.

At the 9:18 mark, Embiid subbed out. The Sixers scored no points in the fourth quarter until a Paul George driving layup with 7:37 remaining.

Embiid returned for a final stint with 4:02 on the clock. Thanks largely to Maxey, the Sixers stayed close. His third and-one layup of the fourth quarter cut the Hawks’ lead to 108-105.

Maxey didn’t get much offensive help down the stretch of the fourth. With the Sixers trailing by four points, Embiid dished to an open George in the corner and he missed his jumper long. Though George had an off shooting game (6 for 17 from the floor), he contributed in many other areas, tallying 16 points, seven rebounds, five steals and four assists in 28 minutes.

The Hawks weren’t smooth at all in their efforts to stamp the win and the Sixers played with the feisty spirit that’s spurred their early-season comeback wins.

Dominick Barlow’s and-one layup with 12.7 seconds left trimmed the Sixers’ deficit to 115-112. Barlow missed his free throw, but George chased down the offensive rebound and passed to Maxey, who swished a clutch long-range jumper to tie the game.

Daniels pivoted around Embiid on the ensuing possession, but he failed to score inside. The officials didn’t grant Nurse’s timeout request with around two seconds left and George threw up an unsuccessful heave at the fourth-quarter buzzer.

George scored the first points of overtime with a couple of free throws. Neither team could gain any sort of meaningful lead in the first extra session. Johnson canned a three that gave the Hawks a 122-121 edge, but Jared McCain answered with a triple of his own.

A spinning Maxey layup pulled the Sixers ahead and he had a golden chance to ice the game with 4.3 seconds remaining. He missed both his 16th and 17th free throw attempts.

The Hawks then got the ball to Johnson. He drove baseline on Barlow, pump faked and drew a foul with 0.3 seconds left. Johnson nailed his free throws.

The Sixers didn’t send Embiid out for the second overtime and instead turned to Bona at center. Maxey never subbed out after the start of the fourth quarter. The NBA’s minutes leader played 52.

He looked nothing like the typical exhausted player with that large a load. Maxey kept on driving hard and finishing inside in the second overtime. His lay-in tied the contest at 132 apiece.

No one else could chip in for the Sixers’ offense and Atlanta capitalized on defensive breakdowns. Johnson buried two deep jumpers to lift the Hawks to a six-point lead. The Sixers couldn’t conjure any of the magic they’d found at the end of regulation and ultimately dipped to 2-1 this season in overtime games.

Embiid returns for Sixers vs. Hawks following 9-game absence  originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Sixers’ health picture substantially improved Sunday night for their meeting with the Hawks.

After initially being listed as out, Joel Embiid (right knee injury management) was upgraded to questionable early Sunday afternoon and to available about 30 minutes before tip-off. VJ Edgecombe (left calf injury management) and Andre Drummond (right knee contusion) were both upgraded to available, too.

Embiid had missed the past nine games. The Sixers had not reported any structural issues or setbacks with his knee, calling the injury “day-to-day,” although head coach Nick Nurse had acknowledged that Embiid was dealing with soreness.

For the first time this season, the Sixers used a starting lineup with their star trio of Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and Paul George. Edgecombe and Dominick Barlow also started. Entering Sunday, Embiid had played in only six games this season, George in just four. Both George and Embiid remain on minutes restrictions. 

“It’s just trying to stack good days, keep the good days going,” George said Friday after posting 14 points in the Sixers’ win Friday over the Nets. “It’s been trending forward. With the more on court I’ve been able to do, the better I’ve been feeling postgame. Hopefully, the minutes will start to increase as the weeks go on, as the games on and as the body continues to develop.”

Drummond exited the Brooklyn game early after hurting his knee but avoided serious injury. Edgecombe had sat out the last three games with his calf injury.

Kelly Oubre Jr. (left knee LCL sprain) and Trendon Watford (left adductor strain) were the two Sixers out Sunday. 

Hawks star Trae Young was sidelined by a right knee MCL sprain, Kristaps Porzingis by an illness. 

Lakers star LeBron James will miss Sunday's game against the New Orleans Pelicans as he manages a right foot injury, the team announced.

The Lakers (14-4) are playing the first of two games in as many nights at home. They host the Phoenix Suns on Monday, which will be the team's third game in four days after a win over the Dallas Mavericks on Friday.

Playing in just his fourth game of the season, James played 34 minutes in the 129-119 win, scoring 13 points with seven assists. He missed the beginning of the season for the first time in his 23-year NBA career because of right sciatica that sidelined him for 14 games.

Read more:Former Lakers star Anthony Davis makes long-awaited return to L.A. after trade

Despite James' limited time, the Lakers have still thrived behind Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. Doncic leads the NBA in scoring with 35.1 points per game. The dynamic duo combined for 72 points in Friday’s win, led by 38 points on 12-for-15 shooting from Reaves. The Lakers' guard scored 31 points in the team’s first matchup against the Pelicans, a 118-104 win on Nov. 14 in New Orleans.

The Pelicans (3-17) have the worst record in the Western Conference. The Lakers need James for the tougher matchup against the Suns (12-9) on Monday before playing in Toronto on Thursday, the first game of a three-game East Coast trip.

The Lakers will also be without guard Marcus Smart (back spasms) for the second consecutive game.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

Australia's Tim David crashed a stunning 98 from 30 balls as UAE Bulls won their first Abu Dhabi T10 League title with an 80-run win over Aspin Stallions.

After being put in to bat, James Vince retired hurt early for Bulls, before Phil Salt (18) fell in the third over.

From there it was the David show. He had hit 57 off 18 balls earlier in the day to lead Bulls to the final, but this was even better.

He hit three fours and 12 sixes as he shared an unbroken 128 with Rovman Powell (24* off 20) to power Bulls to 150-1.

Stallions, who were playing in the competition for the first time, never got going in reply and were 10-1 after two overs and already well behind the required run-rate.

They finished on 70-4 with Rahmanullah Gurbaz top-scoring with 18.

David finishes the tournament as the leading run-scorer (393), with England's Salt second on 256.

Australia's Andrew Tye was the leading wicket-taker with 13.

Jalen Brunson finished with 37 points on 21 shots in Friday night’s win over the Milwaukee Bucks, his ninth 30-point effort of the early season. The performance drew calls for Brunson to receive recognition in the MVP race, first from Stan Van Gundy during the broadcast, then from head coach Mike Brown after the game. 

It’s tough to argue for Brunson’s season being anything but MVP-worthy thus far. He’s averaging a career high 29.1 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 6.2 assists on 54.5 percent shooting from two and 38 percent from three. 

Last season, Brunson was similarly impressive and valuable, yet only mustered one fifth-place vote. He fell short of nine of his peers, including Cade Cunningham and Jayson Tatum,both of whom he would go on to eliminate in the Playoffs. 

Others are calling it out early, but we need to see proper respect given to Brunson this year. He’s one of the league’s most consistent performers and feared scorers, yet dumbfoundedly, isn’t recognized as one of its most valuable players. 

No matter your personal criteria in determining the award’s winner, Brunson fits the bill. If you’re looking for the best player on the best team, the Knicks are 12-6 and slowly rising in the East, and there’s no dispute who their captain has been. 

Sure, OKC is a juggernaut that may be on its way to 74 wins, but having historically exceptional candidates doesn’t delegitimize Brunson’s case. It only shows how well he’s made it in spite of who he’s up against. 

If you’re dead set on the “value” piece of the award, the Knicks are outscoring their opponents by eight more points per 100 possessions with Brunson on the court vs off, in line with the effect Luka Doncic has had this season. Brunson also has much less ball handling and creation help than his other candidates, further emphasizing his importance.

When the game comes down to its closing moments, nobody outshines Brunson. What’s more valuable than having the league’s ultimate closer?

At least that's what he was crowned last season when he won the Clutch Player of the Year award. He’s off to a hot start this year, with a last-minute and-one and some clutch passing against the Bucks, another key dime in Dallas and some daggers thrown against Boston. 

Other candidates have their share of teammate injuries, but Brunson has had to deal with that plus the installation of an entirely revamped offense. He’s taken the new system in stride, while injecting his own flavor to it, but it took a few games to get going and may still need tweaking.

For those caught up on Brunson’s physical, savvy play that’s misconstrued as foul-baiting or unethical, just note every leading MVP candidate is top-20 in free throw attempts per game, but not Brunson. His defense also likes to get nitpicked, but the Knicks' D has held up well with Brunson, being far more heavily swayed by OG Anunoby’s absence and Mitchell Robinson’s struggles.

It shouldn’t take elite basketball minds like Brown’s or Van Gundy’s to get across what’s obvious to anybody watching: Brunson is an MVP-caliber player, and the voters and coverage should reflect that.

Kevon Looney clarifies ‘they forgot about me' comments regarding Warriors exit  originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Kevon Looney’s first trip back to Chase Center in a different uniform brought a swirl of nostalgia — and a chance to clarify a comment that surfaced after his Golden State departure this offseason.

The longtime Warriors center — now with the New Orleans Pelicans — acknowledged previously feeling like Golden State had forgotten about him toward the end of his tenure, as he fell out of coach Steve Kerr’s NBA playoff rotation.

But before Saturday’s matchup against his former team, he made it clear there’s no resentment behind that sentiment.

“It wasn’t really difficult,” Looney said in the pregame press conference with Bay Area reporters. “Steve is the guy that changes lineups, and you kind of have to wait on your opportunity, and he does it to anybody on the team. He just wants to win. He puts the best lineups out there just to win games. And so, it was a real frustration. I kind of know how he thinks, and I know what he’s trying to do.”

Looney admitted that the competitor in him wanted to be out there helping against postseason matchups he has handled for years. But he understands how Kerr operates — and why decisions were made.

“As a player, you see the matchups, and you just want something bad to get out there, to leave an impact,” Looney explained. “It was more along that line, but it was no hard feelings. You know, 10 years, I had a lot of great memories. More great than bad. There were times when I probably didn’t deserve the opportunity, and the coaching staff put me out there, so it kind of all balances out.”

In July, a week after signing with the Pelicans, Looney spoke to The Athletic’s Marcus Thompson II on the “Warriors Plus/Minus” podcast and expressed his frustration with his role.

“I guess,” Looney said when Thompson II asked him if Post was the final straw for him. “I wouldn’t say it like that, but it was anybody but me it seemed like at this point. It wasn’t no one moment. Even this year, probably the playoffs. We going up against Steven Adams. This is what I do. They’re not really giving me the chance to really let me do what I do.

“It’s like, ‘All right, y’all don’t trust me? I thought y’all trusted me.’ They put me at the end in Game 7, it’s like why’d we have to wait for that point?”

Looney spent a decade anchoring the Warriors’ frontcourt with relentless rebounding performances during three NBA championship runs, and he earned a reputation as one of the franchise’s most respected locker-room voices.

Those will always outweigh the frustrations of his final season in the Bay.

“It’s all love — those guys are like my family,” Looney said. “When I come back here, all I think about is all the winning we did.”

Looney signed a two-year deal with New Orleans in June, taking on a new role with a young roster. But his long tenure and three rings ensure his Warriors chapter won’t be forgotten, no matter where he plays.

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Cooper Flagg became the youngest-ever player to score 35 points in an NBA game as he helped the Dallas Mavericks rally to a 114-110 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday night.

The 18-year-old went 13 for 22 from the field in his 20th career game. The top pick in this year’s draft also grabbed eight rebounds. The only other 18-year-old to score 35 points in an NBA game is LeBron James, who did so twice in his rookie season. His first came when he was 18 years and 348 days old, five days older than Flagg was on Saturday.

“He’s only 18 years old, but he seems like he’s been in this league before,” Mavs coach Jason Kidd said. “He did it all tonight. He had the ball. You can call it point guard or whatever, but he ran the offense for us. He drove the ball. The ball touched the paint. He got to the rim, got to the free throw line, stepped up and made free throws for us late. Just his composure on both ends [impressed me]. He competes at a very high level. You saw that tonight, but you saw that last night, too.”

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Flagg also impressed in Friday’s game, when he faced James’s Lakers. In that game, he had 11 assists, an NBA record for an 18-year-old. His 35-year-old teammate, Klay Thompson, is another admirer.

“Cooper’s upside is limitless,” Thompson said. “He has every tool to be great. Sometimes I can’t believe he should be a freshman in college.”

Flagg was aggressive all game against the Clippers, including a spectacular dunk over Ivica Zubac.

“Being aggressive right now is obviously right for me, and that’s what Coach has stressed to me,” said Flagg. “I’ve got to be aggressive, and we’ll live with some of the mistakes, but you just have to be aggressive and trust all the work.”

Thompson also had an impressive outing: he hit four three-pointers in the fourth quarter, his final one putting Dallas ahead for good with 1:51 left. He shot 6 of 10 from long distance overall as the Mavericks snapped a three-game losing streak. He finished with 23 points, 17 of which came in the final quarter.

Kawhi Leonard led Los Angeles with 30 points and eight rebounds. James Harden added 29 points, 11 assists and eight boards for the Clippers, who dropped their fourth consecutive game. John Collins scored 21 and Ivica Zubac had 19 points and 11 boards.

Los Angeles (5-15) have lost seven straight at the Intuit Dome since beating New Orleans 126-124 on Halloween night. The Mavericks (6-15) scored 20 points off 18 Clippers turnovers.