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OG Anunoby 'felt good' in return from injury to help Knicks dominate Jazz

The Knicks' starting lineup is finally at full strength.

OG Anunoby returned to the floor on Friday against the Jazz, his first game since injuring his hamstring on Nov. 14. The forward missed nine games just when he was putting up some of the best numbers of his career. 

But Anunoby picked up where he left off, scoring 11 points and assisting one in 23 minutes on Friday night. As with any game Anunoby plays, his impact goes far beyond the stat sheet. The first defensive possession for the Knicks, Anunoby forced a bad pass from Jazz forward Svi Mykhailiuk, one of many stops by the Knicks as they got off to a 23-0 start, the best in NBA history since play-by-play has been recorded (1997-98), en route to a 146-112 rout. 

"I didn't really notice it. We were just playing. Someone told us later," Anunoby said. "I didn't even notice they didn't score; we were just getting stops and going. So felt pretty good just playing the way we try to play all the time."

That good feeling extended to Anunoby's health. He said he felt good after the game and that he missed playing with his teammates and playing for the fans. But he did not have a good time being unable to play. In those few weeks of missing action, Anunoby described his time recovering as "not fun" but still tried to help his teammates however he could. 

"Just try to help in any way possible," Anunoby said. "Be supportive, talk to my teammates, tell them what I'm seeing, and still help."

Part of that support is watching film and pointing out little things his teammates are not doing or what teams are doing to the Knicks and trying to get them to incorporate it.

Anunoby's 23 minutes was good, but head coach Mike Brown was hoping to extend his forward even longer, but the score dictated he empty his bench. Brown did allow Anunoby to play with the reserves as the rest sat on the bench, watching for most of the fourth quarter. 

"It was tough because you always wonder... you get a big lead, you don’t want anybody to get hurt. But we needed to get OG some game minutes to work on his conditioning," Brown explained. "He looked good for the time he was out there. I would have loved to get him 25-26 minutes, but 22-23 worked good enough, especially with the way we had the lead tonight."

Anunoby says he'll need just a couple of game to feel like he's in game shape, and he'll definitely need his conditioning when the Knicks welcome a physical Magic team to the Garden on Sunday. 

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Knicks revert to 2024 starting lineup in OG Anunoby's return, throttle Jazz 146-112

The Knicks welcomed back OG Anunoby on Friday night after the wing missed three weeks with a hamstring injury, but the situation that he found himself returning to was not the one that he'd left. In his stead, Josh Hart had re-entered the starting lineup and recaptured his old magic while the Knicks had won six of their last eight games. When it was announced that Anunoby would be returning, there were plenty of questions surrounding who would start and how seamlessly the pieces would all fit together.

For one night, the answer was a resounding "Just right," as the Knicks were challenged in a 146-112 win over the Utah Jazz at Madison Square Garden.

Before Anunoby's injury, the 28-year-old wing was thriving in new head coach Mike Brown's system. Anunoby was averaging 15.8 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1.9 steals per game while shooting 47.6% from the field and 39.2% from beyond the arc. He was playing elite defense on the wing and, through 12 games, seemed on track to be selected to his first career All-Star game.

But not all of his teammates were enjoying as much success.

The beginning of the year had not been kind to Josh Hart. When the season began, there were a few questions surrounding the man who seemingly never left the floor under the previous head coach, Tom Thibodeau. With a new sheriff in town, it was announced that Mitchell Robinson would enter the starting lineup, pushing Karl-Anthony Towns to the power forward role and moving Josh Hart to the bench. Then, in training camp, Hart aggravated a nerve injury in the ring finger of his shooting hand, which causes his finger to swell and go numb, obviously impacting his shooting and ball-handling. Hart decided to delay surgery until after the season, but the results were not good early in the year.

In the first 10 games of the season, Hart averaged 8.4 points, 6.2 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 0.8 steals in 23.8 minutes per night. He was shooting 44.4% from the field (33.3% from deep) with a 51% effective field goal rate. On top of his offensive struggles, he was posting an uncharacteristically poor 116.1 defensive rating and a 10.1 Player Impact Estimate, which is kind of like basketball's version of WAR (Wins Above Replacement). He seemed frustrated by his performance and his role, and there was some worry that he might not fit into Mike Brown’s new system as well as he had under Thibodeau.

Still, the Knicks were 7-3 in those games. Mitchell Robinson was proving to be perhaps the best offensive rebounder in the league, and the new offensive system that stressed ball movement and a drive-and-kick philosophy had led to strong starts for Anunoby and Bridges. It seemed like this was the way things would continue, until Anunoby hurt his hamstring just five minutes into an NBA Cup game against the Miami Heat on November 14th.

That game proved to be a turning point for Hart. The 30-year-old was asked to play more minutes with Jalen Brunson already out with an ankle injury, and Anunoby leaving the game. But Hart responded, putting up a triple-double with 12 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists as the Knicks won 140-132.

Over his next nine games, including that NBA Cup performance, Hart averaged 15.7 points, 9.4 rebounds, 6.4 assists, and 1.8 steals in 34.3 minutes per game. He shot 55.3% from the field (45% from deep) with a 65% effective field goal rate. His defensive rating also improved to 113.7, and his Player Impact Estimate was up to 14.6.

His performance did not go unnoticed as head coach Mike Brown blamed himself for Hart’s poor start: “I’ll take the hit on that…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…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.”

That belief wasn't only rewarded with improved performance but with a return to the starting lineup. Hart started the last five games coming into Friday's contest, and Coach Brown credited his coaching staff with helping him adjust: “You know, I had reasons why I started the other way [with Hart coming off the bench],” explained Brown after Wednesday’s win against the Hornets. “But my staff, I think all of them, were like, ‘Hey, these are the reasons why it would be better.’ And the reality of it is, I just listened to my staff. I said, Okay, if I’m the only one thinking that other way may be better at that time, then maybe I’m wrong.”

Given all of that, when Anunoby was cleared to play tonight, Coach Brown made the decision to start Hart alongside him, pushing Robinson to the bench and using the starting lineup that the Knicks had used for most of the 2024-25 season. While some of that could have been impacted by the fact that Robinson himself doesn't seem to be 100% healthy, it was also a nod to how well Hart had been playing and how much he means to the team.

For one night, against a poor Jazz team, the new/old starting lineup worked. The Knicks led 23-0 to start the game and never looked back.

Neither Hart nor Anunoby was particularly impactful on the offensive end in that first quarter. Hart scored two points but grabbed three rebounds and dished out one assist, while Anunoby posted three points with no other stats. More importantly, the offense clearly flowed well, and both players were solid defensively. Anunoby would go on to finish with 11 points, one assist, and no rebounds in 23 rusty minutes. Still, he was back out on the court, and that's what mattered most.

"It felt good," Anunoby said after the game about being back on the court. "Missed playing with my teammates. Missed the fans. I missed it, it was really fun playing."

Hart finished with eight points, six rebounds, six assists, and a steal in 28 minutes. Most of the Knicks' starters sat for the fourth quarter, with not a single starter playing in the final eight minutes of the game.

At the end of the day, it was one game against one of the weaker teams in the NBA, but it seems that the Knicks are preparing for life with both Hart and Anunoby in the starting five yet again. As a whole, that lineup was the eighth most effective five-man lineup, based on net rating, of any lineup the Knicks used for at least 60 minutes last season. There were only 12 qualified lineups. That lineup also had the third-worst defensive rating.

Yet, coming into Friday's game, that same lineup had played 40 minutes together this season and had the fourth-highest net rating of the nine qualified Knicks lineups. It also had the fourth-best defensive rating.

Perhaps in a new system, this five-man lineup could have new life. It seems like we'll get a chance to find out.

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Knicks use record-setting first quarter, 47-point third quarter to blow out Jazz, 146-112

The Knicks opened the game on a record-setting run and used a 47-point third quarter to blow out the Utah Jazz, 146-112, on Friday night at MSG.

It's New York's best home start (12-1) since 1992-1993 and the most points they've scored in a game since 1980.

Here are the takeaways...

-- OG Anunoby returned to the court for the first time since suffering a hamstring injury on Nov. 14 and immediately made an impact, forcing a turnover on Utah's first possession. Fellow starters Karl-Anthony Towns, Josh Hart, Jalen Brunson, and Mikal Bridges all scored (in order) and soon after, Miles McBride, off the bench for Anunoby, drilled a three-pointer to put the Knicks up 16-0, forcing a Jazz timeout. The lead grew to 23 points before Keyonte George scored with 5:27 remaining in the first quarter, drawing a continuation foul against Bridges and completing the three-point play.

The 23-0 start became the largest game-opening run without an opponent point in the PxP era (1997-98), per the NBA.

-- Anunoby got his first bucket on a fade-away, and-one jumper with about a minute left and Brunson capped off the dominant quarter with a step-back three-pointer with 1.6 seconds remaining. The Knicks took a commanding 41-13 lead, their largest lead after the first quarter since the 1996-1997 season. They held Utah to 17 percent shooting, with three of their four makes coming from beyond the arc. 

-- Towns got going in the second with an offensive rebound followed by a three-pointer on the next possession. George, Kyle Filipowski, and veteran Kevin Love began to get the Jazz back in the game, but McBride caught fire with three straight three-pointers to push the lead to 29 points.  

New York led at halftime, 68-47, despite losing the second quarter (34-27) as Lauri Markkanen heated up before the break. The Knicks shot 51 percent in the first half and won the rebound battle by six. McBride led the way with 16 points (5-for-7 on threes), while Brunson had 13, and Towns and Bridges scored 10 each. Bridges' scoring came on 5-for-5 shooting in the first quarter, but he barely played in the second quarter after picking up his third foul. 

-- Towns made two straight three-pointers to open the third quarter and then Brunson decided it was his turn, hitting two straight threes to push the lead back up to 27 points. McBride's huge night continued, as he buried his sixth and seventh three-pointers (connecting on 27 of his last 41 attempts) to make it a 100-67 game with 3:28 remaining in the quarter. Brunson kept the three-point barrage going, making two more before hitting his free throws to give him 32 points through three quarters.

The Knicks blew it open with 47 points in the third, their most points in any quarter this season, to go up 115-77.

-- Mike Brown emptied the bench in the fourth quarter, but allowed Anunoby to keep playing and shake off any rust. He checked out with 7:15 left, playing a total of 23 minutes in his first game back. He scored 11 points on 4-for-8 shooting with an assist and two turnovers. 

Brunson finished with a game-high 33 points on 9-for-17 shooting, including a perfect 9-for-9 at the foul line. Towns had 18 points and nine rebounds, while Clarkson had 16 points off the bench. All 12 Knicks who played scored. Overall, New York made 21 three-pointers, shooting 50 percent from deep as a team.

Game MVP: Miles McBride

McBride heard elongated "Deuce" chants from the Garden crowd all night long. He scored 22 points in 22 minutes, going 7-for-10 from three-point land with three rebounds and two assists. 

Highlights

What's next

The Knicks will stay at home and face off against the Orlando Magic on Sunday, Dec. 7 at 12:00 p.m.

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Blake Griffin on Clippers: 'I'm just disappointed… I'm disappointed for Chris Paul'

Chris Paul and Blake Griffin were teammates for six years — the best on-court six years in Clippers history. The Lob City Clippers won 50+ games five of those seasons and were a legitimate title contender in a few of those years, a team undone by injuries, meltdowns, and one ugly ownership change in the middle of that run. Griffin was one of many CP3 teammates over the years who occasionally chaffed at the point guard's in-your-face leadership style, but there was mutual respect, and together (with DeAndre Ayton and others) they turned the Clippers from a laughingstock of a franchise into one that had to be respected.

Griffin was famously and unceremoniously traded by the Clippers six months after signing a max extension with the team. Those ice-cold Clippers were back this week with their awkward decision to send Chris Paul home and away from the team during a road trip — and to do it in the middle of the night.

Griffin now works as part of the Amazon Prime NBA coverage, and he was asked Friday for his thoughts on the situation and he called out his former franchise.

"I'm just disappointed. To be honest. I can't think of really another word. Obviously shocked at first. But disappointed. I'm disappointed for Chris Paul.

"But I'm disappointed in the Clippers organization. I mean, Chris Paul is a guy who came to the Clippers, when DeAndre and I were first and second-year guys. He brought a winning culture. He taught us how to operate in the NBA, and how to take every game seriously, how to take your body seriously, that there was no detail that was too small. And we weren't perfect, right? Like, we failed ultimately win a championship. I know that. I'm reminded of it every day. And CP and I didn't always see eye to eye. But I'm disappointed because we got to a franchise that was synonymous with jokes. Right? You heard the Clippers, and you heard the curse. And, again, we didn't win a championship, but we did create a culture and an environment that people respected. You know, every year, you knew the Clippers were gonna be competitive.

"And Chris Paul, for 20 years, has been the same player. He's been about winning. And, you know, re-signed with the Clippers. This was supposed to be his moment, his, you know, coming back to LA. You know, 'I'm giving it one last go.' And for him to not get to walk out on his own terms, from the franchise that he chose to go to to end his career, is extremely disappointing. But I think the biggest reason I'm disappointed is what Chris said: No communication with Ty Lue. And, even more than that, you know, no communication -- I talked to CP Wednesday, I talked to him yesterday, I talked to him today -- no communication with Steve Ballmer. And that's, like, the disappointing thing for me."

Griffin is spot on — the Clippers knew exactly who they were bringing in when they re-signed Chris Paul this summer. His style in the locker room is not some secret around the league, and he's the same guy now that he was when he was here a decade earlier. The guy who calls out everything is going to get annoying to hear on a 6-16 team, and Lue was probably tired of hearing it. The Clippers are also a franchise that has become known for letting its stars have some latitude off the court with team structures, and when the team isn't winning, CP3 is going to call everyone out.

Whatever you think of the reasoning behind the Clippers sending CP3 home, how this team handled it was sloppy. The late-night news break, the lack of communication, it's the kind of thing players and agents remember. It's too much of what the Clippers used to be and not what they have worked to become as an organization under Ballmer.

Griffin is right, it's been disappointing.

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Observations after Sixers' bench, George star in win over Bucks

Observations after Sixers' bench, George star in win over Bucks  originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Sixers’ bench scored over half of the team’s points Friday night, contributing a ton to a 116-101 road win over the Bucks.

The team’s second unit tallied 61 points, including 22 from Quentin Grimes on 7-for-9 shooting and 18 from Jabari Walker.

Paul George had 20 points, five rebounds and five assists. Tyrese Maxey posted a season-low 12 points, four assists, four steals and four rebounds.

The 10-14 Bucks’ leading scorer was Bobby Portis with 22 points. 

On the second night of a back-to-back, the 13-9 Sixers were missing Joel Embiid (left knee injury recovery), Kelly Oubre Jr. (left knee LCL sprain) and Trendon Watford (left adductor strain).

Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo was out with a right calf injury. 

The Sixers will come home and play the Lakers on Sunday night. Here are observations on their win over the Bucks:

Maxey ultra-consistent on defense 

Maxey scored the night’s first points, converting on a floater 11 seconds in.

Ryan Rollins started on the Sixers’ star, stayed close to his body and often picked him up full court. Milwaukee also mixed up its pick-and-roll coverages, sometimes hedging and blitzing Maxey. Bucks head coach Doc Rivers clearly did not want a repeat of Maxey’s career-high 54-point performance last time he came to Milwaukee.

The Sixers went up 7-2 on a VJ Edgecombe jumper, but the Bucks replied with a 9-0 run capped by Myles Turner’s second three. Thanks in large part to another good defensive start, the Sixers bounced right back. 

They forced seven turnovers in the first quarter, causing trouble for the Bucks’ offense without making risky gambles. Maxey turned a steal into a fast-break layup. He’s nabbed 10 steals over his last three games. Maxey also recorded a block for the fifth consecutive game and did strong work on Bucks shooting guard AJ Green, who went scoreless on 0-for-4 shooting in the first half and was ruled out before the start of the third quarter with a left shoulder contusion.

In the first half, the Sixers had a 17-7 edge in points off turnovers. 

Sixers’ bench on fire

The Sixers’ second unit opened 6 for 6 from the field late in the first quarter, including four three-pointers. Jared McCain, Grimes and Walker all sunk long-range jumpers. 

Adem Bona added six points in the first and gave the Sixers a 33-20 lead with a tip-in. Milwaukee moved to zone defense to begin the second quarter and Walker promptly knocked down two open threes. He then snagged an offensive rebound, drew a foul and made both his free throws.

Sixers head coach Nick Nurse used a 10-man rotation to close out the back-to-back. He played Kyle Lowry behind Maxey, going to the 20th-year guard for the third time this season.

Lowry swung the ball to Walker in the corner and he stayed hot, burying his jumper and surging past his prior season high of a dozen points. Walker scored a team-high 16 in the first half and the Sixers’ bench posted 40 over two quarters. 

Nurse has noted multiple times that he’s confident in Walker’s outside shooting because the two-way contract forward has excellent numbers behind the scenes. He raised his season three-point percentage from 29.2 to 34.4 (11 for 32) in a single game. 

Lowry later joined the shotmaking party by hitting a transition three on the right wing and extending the Sixers’ lead to 22 points. Lowry celebrated with glee and Rivers called timeout. 

George leads the way in the fourth

It perhaps flew a tad under the radar in light of the Sixers’ bench’s sensational play, but George also played a nice second quarter, scoring nine points in the period.

The Sixers led by as many 26 points in the first half and held a 69-49 halftime advantage.

They had a cold start to the third quarter and the Bucks cut a bit further into their deficit. The Sixers didn’t make a field goal in the third until a tough Edgecombe layup through contact with 8:36 left. To the Bucks’ credit, their defensive effort improved considerably.

When Grimes drained his fourth three-pointer to put the Sixers up 88-66, it appeared they weren’t in danger of blowing another big lead like they had Thursday night in a crazy win over the Warriors.

However, Milwaukee closed the third quarter well and trimmed the Sixers’ lead to 93-81 on a Gary Trent Jr. four-point play early in the fourth. Just about every Sixers jumper began to fall short and the Bucks got as close as nine points.

The Sixers ran much of their offense through George in the fourth quarter and he drilled a couple of key mid-range shots over Jericho Sims. George also assisted a late Edgecombe three.

Friday’s game snapped a season-opening 21-game streak for Maxey of scoring at least 20 points. Many others played well to help the Sixers still secure a win.

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LeBron James to miss Lakers' game against Celtics

TORONTO, ON - DECEMBER 4: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers dribbles the ball as Immanuel Quickley #5 of the Toronto Raptors defends during second half action at Scotiabank Arena on December 4, 2025 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 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 Andrew Lahodynskyj/Getty Images)
A night after failing to score in double figures for the first time in nearly 19 years, LeBron James will skip the game in Boston to rest his sore foot and right side. (Andrew Lahodynskyj / Getty Images)

One night after assisting the game-winning basket against the Toronto Raptors, superstar forward LeBron James will miss the Lakers’ rivalry game against the Boston Celtics, the team announced Friday.

James was downgraded to out less than three hours before the game as he manages sciatica in his right side and joint arthritis in his left foot. The Lakers (16-5) are also without Luka Doncic for the second consecutive game as he is out because of personal reasons and guard Marcus Smart (left lumbar muscle strain) for the fifth game in a row.

The 40-year-old James has played only six games after missing the first 14 games because of sciatica. He missed one game because of the foot injury, which is a lingering problem from last season. He has yet to play back-to-back games, and coach JJ Redick said the goal is to build James’ fitness to the point where he can do that.

James’ streak of 1,297 consecutive games with 10 or more points ended Thursday at Toronto, but the Lakers still won as he dished an assist to Rui Hachimura for the buzzer-beating three-pointer.

James had eight points and 11 assists while Austin Reaves powered the offense with 44 points and 10 assists. The guard is averaging 41 points in four games without Doncic.

The Lakers are on a three-game, four-day Eastern Conference road trip. After Friday’s game in Boston, the Lakers finish the swing Sunday in Philadelphia.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

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NBA Trade Rumors 2025-26: The latest on Giannis Antetokounmpo, plus Anthony Davis, Trae Young, more

The conventional wisdom holds that Dec. 15 marks the unofficial opening of the NBA trade season, because that's when many players who signed new contracts or extensions this past summer become eligible to be traded. The reality is that it will be Dec. 19-22 in Orlando — when the NBA G League Winter Showcase takes place — that talks really start to ramp up. It's when the GMs and front offices of all 30 teams gather together, ostensibly to watch the best G-League players, but it's an event without fans (just basketball people and some media), and you can watch as certain GMs peel off and start side conversations just 30 feet from the court. It's where business starts to get done.

Heading into all of that, here are the latest NBA Trade rumors, starting with the biggest name potentially on the board.

Giannis Antetokounmpo

Antetokounmpo being off the court for 2-4 weeks with a calf strain is not about to slow the trade rumors surrounding him, or the fake trades we are all seeing, after he reportedly restarted talks about his future with the Bucks front office. Here are a few updates.

• Milwaukee may find it hard to land a lot of first-round picks. Antetokounmpo's performance is not in question, he has been playing at an MVP-level this season. However, he turns 31 on Saturday and is looking for a massive contract extension that will start in the 2027-28 or 2028-29 season, his age-33 or age-34 season (he has a $62.8 million player option for 2027-28). The recent history of teams giving up a massive haul of first-round picks for players entering their mid-30s — even elite players — has them pausing and seriously considering how many picks they would trade for Antetokounmpo. Brian Windhorst of ESPN put it this way on his Hoop Collective Podcast:

"What I'm telling you is that when I talk to executives and these executives are not in trade talks with the Bucks or another for a star player right now, the mood in the NBA right now is not give up four first round picks for anybody ... All these teams are worried about getting into apron trouble where they can't reset their rosters...

"This is how teams are thinking right now. They're a little freaked about the aprons. There ain't going to be no five first round pick trades. I know that we saw those for a while. That's just not to happen."

• The Pelicans' 2026 draft pick could determine where Antetokounmpo lands. Antetokounmpo may have New York at the top of his wish list, but talking to league sources the last 48 hours, three teams come up as being able to put together better offers and may be places Antetokounmpo would be open to: Atlanta, San Antonio and Houston.

Atlanta is the team I hear the most (assuming Antetokounmpo wants to stay in the East). It can make a trade based around Trae Young and recent No. 1 pick Zaccharie Risacher, but the biggest prize would be the Pelicans' first-round pick in next June's draft (which Atlanta controls because Joe Dumars traded it away to move up last June and select Derik Queen in a head-shaking move). NBA insider Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report and The Stein Line said he had been told all season there was no way the Hawks were surrendering what could be a very high pick in a deep draft at the top, but then added that landing Antetokounmpo in his prime and just going for it — with a team that has gone 11-7 while Young is out injured and has had a much improved defense — has to have the Atlanta front office rethinking that stance.

• The Oklahoma City factor. While Oklahoma City has the picks and players to make a serious offer for Antetokounmpo if they wanted to, why would they? At 21-1 with a record point differential and a locker room that gets along well, OKC looks like a juggernaut this season.

OKC's dominance is something Houston and San Antonio have to take into consideration, as Zach Lowe of The Ringer discussed on his podcast. Do the Spurs look at this season's Thunder, then look at how young their roster is, and decide to be patient and take their swings at OKC in a couple of years, when their roster is peaking, and the luxury tax is forcing changes to the Thunder? Same thing with Houston, which looks like a contender now, although Kevin Durant being on that team does somewhat change the equation. The bottom line is that both of those teams may look at the big picture and step back.

• The two big questions about an Antetokounmpo trade. In talking to league sources about the trade, two big themes and questions emerged:

1) Will Antetokounmpo (through his agent) actually demand a trade this time? He has danced up to this line but stepped back, not wanting to come off as the bad guy forcing his way out of Milwaukee (a tactic that has worked; the Bucks have upgraded their roster as best they could each time). Yes, Antetokounmpo asked the Bucks to explore a trade with the Knicks last summer, but by the time he did there was no deal to be made. This would be different. It also feels different on Antetokounmpo's end this time.

2) If Antetokounmpo is available via trade, will the Bucks work with the two-time MVP to get him where he wants to go (presumably New York, although maybe another city or two is on the list), or will they look for the best offer regardless of destination? Antetokounmpo has some leverage because he can be a free agent in the summer of 2027, but plenty of teams would be willing to take the risk on him for a year at the right price.

Anthony Davis

Davis getting traded feels more like an offseason move than one that happens during the season, especially since the team has looked better of late, winning three straight (games against Oklahoma City and Houston in the coming days are good measuring sticks).

When ESPN’s Windhorst was talking about teams not wanting to give up many first-round picks in a trade, that was aimed more at Anthony Davis and the market for him than at Antetokounmpo. Davis is 32, with a history of nagging injuries, and also is up for a contract extension this summer — a potentially massive one — which has teams a little hesitant. Is an aging Davis going to be worth the money he is asking? Windhorst added this on his podcast.

"When I have heard what people are saying Anthony Davis' trade value is right now, not because of him as a player, to be clear, not because he's diminished as a player, but because of the idea of paying an injury-prone mid-30s guy $50, $60 million dollars in the apron era is unpalatable."

James Harden, Kawhi Leonard

The Clippers have never hit the fact that they are built to pivot in 2027, when everyone except Ivica Zubac comes off the books. However, after a dreadful start to this season, could the Clippers accelerate that timeline by trading James Harden or Kawhi Leonard?

Good luck with that. Especially with Leonard, who is making $50 million this season and is guaranteed the same next season, and comes with a lengthy injury history. Harden, playing like an All-Star at a more reasonable $39.2 million (with a player option for $42 million next season), might be a different story, as Tim Bontemps wrote at ESPN.

"The feedback from league insiders has been that, while a team would take on Harden, it may be more difficult to find a landing spot for Leonard because of his injury and the Aspiration case still ongoing. "James has maybe neutral value," an East scout said. "Kawhi Leonard has negative value."

Trae Young/LaMelo Ball/Ja Morant

This group of point guards is who I am watching most closely heading into the trade deadline, thinking that one of their teams might decide it's time to make a major pivot and move on if the right deal comes along.

Except that deal is unlikely to materialize, as ESPN’s Tim MacMahon and Bobby Marks wrote. They said these comments summed up the prevailing opinion on all three.

"I wouldn't want any of them," a Western Conference general manager told ESPN.

"They all might have negative value," an Eastern Conference executive said.

When we get to next offseason that may change for at least one and maybe all three of them, but don't bet on a deadline deal.

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Paolo Banchero set to return to Magic Friday night after missing 10 games with groin strain

After missing 10 games with a left groin strain, Orlando Magic All-Star Paolo Banchero is set to return to the court on Friday night against Miami. He has been listed as available, the team announced.

Orlando found its stride in the last 10 games, going 7-3 with a top-10 offense and defense in the league over that stretch.

Banchero is averaging 21.9 points and 8.7 rebounds a game this season, but while he was out, the Magic found success with better ball movement — players were making quicker decisions, not holding onto the rock, and seemed to be better at finding the open man rather than trying to feed Banchero or Franz Wagner. While Orlando's ceiling is clearly much higher with Banchero, he needs to fit his game now into what has been working for this team. To be fair, he had already been doing that more this season, setting more screens and operating as a hub at the elbow at times.

Banchero's return means he should be available next Tuesday when the Magic host the Miami Heat in an NBA Cup quarterfinals game with a trip to Las Vegas (and a larger Cup bonus check) on the line.

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Edgecombe shows knack for doing ‘whatever it takes' on 1st career game-winner

Edgecombe shows knack for doing ‘whatever it takes' on 1st career game-winner  originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

VJ Edgecombe didn’t pause.

For rookies — and for anyone — it’s natural to stop and stare as a crunch-time shot is launched. But the Sixers’ 20-year-old guard saw De’Anthony Melton block Tyrese Maxey’s jumper and reacted first. As is his habit, he knew where to be and was determined to get there. 

The result was a first career NBA game-winner, a put-back layup with 0.9 seconds on the clock. Despite blowing a 24-point lead Thursday night to the Warriors, the high-drama Sixers sit at 12-9. 

Edgecombe’s vital rebound was no fluke. He’s grabbed 1.9 offensive rebounds per game — second among rookies to 7-foot-1 Hornets center Ryan Kalkbrenner — and has at least one offensive board in 16 of his 18 games. 

“I’m athletic,” he said. “Just try to use my athleticism. The shot goes up, people tend to relax. I’m a victim of it. So I know the opportunity is going to present itself for me to grab the board. And like I said, I can jump, so I just try to jump before them, to be honest.”

Maxey sat to Edgecombe’s left at the postgame press conference podium. Instead of being grateful after Edgecombe’s put-back and celebrating a presumed win, he chased down Melton and blocked his layup attempt on the other end at the buzzer. 

“Rese probably ran a 4.2 (40-yard dash) or something,” Edgecombe said with a smile. 

Maxey enjoyed swatting his good friend and former teammate, who returned Thursday from a torn ACL. 

“Honestly, I just didn’t want him to call me in a couple minutes saying he beat us,” Maxey said of Melton. “I’m just happy to see him out there. He was at my house for two, three hours yesterday just chopping it up and talking about life. … I told him I’d give him one jump shot because he was struggling early. I gave him one middie in the third. But I’m just happy that out he was out there, man. It was good to see him. I told him he can’t guard me, so it’s all good.”

While Maxey continued to be a scorching scorer, posting 35 points, Edgecombe’s final box score stats were not sparkling. He chipped in 10 points, six rebounds, five assists and three steals, but he committed five turnovers and only played 24 minutes in his third game since returning from a left calf injury.

None of his previous mistakes ever seem to matter in the final moments. 

“He’s had some of these games where he just hasn’t done much, and then down the stretch he’ll hit a big three, get a big rebound,” Sixers head coach Nick Nurse said. ”I just thought, ‘Let’s go back with him and maybe he’ll make a play.’ He’s got a nose for the ball and he’s got a nose for what’s going on out there. Even though he’s a rookie, he can make those plays.”

The Sixers had their game-winning chance because Edgecombe stole Pat Spencer’s inbounds pass and called timeout with 8.2 seconds left. 

“Just watching basketball, to be honest,” Edgecombe said of his defensive instincts. “I knew how much time they had to inbound the ball and I knew they had no timeouts left. He had to throw the ball somewhere and everyone was just contesting that one little spot. I just dove on the ball. 

“It’s more just reading their eyes because people tend to telegraph their passes a lot. So just trying to read their eyes and make a quick play on the ball.”

Edgecombe has shined late in many of the Sixers’ ultra-tight early-season contests. 

He’s played 54 minutes in “clutch” situations, which the NBA defines as the final five minutes of games within five points. Edgecombe has shot 10 for 13 from the field and 4 for 6 from three-point range, pulled down 11 rebounds and dished out seven assists. 

“I just want to win,” he said. “Whatever it takes for me to do that, I’ll do it. I don’t care about (anything) else. 

“If they need me to make a shot, I’m going to make the shot. If they need me to grab a rebound, I’ll grab the rebound. Get a steal, get a stop … I’ll do it. Whatever it takes to win, because winning feels great and losing (doesn’t).” 

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Ex-Warrior Jamal Crawford details Steph Curry's work ethic with classic story

Ex-Warrior Jamal Crawford details Steph Curry's work ethic with classic story originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Stephen Curry is 37 years old and still playing like one of the NBA’s best.And according to Jamal Crawford, the reason behind Curry’s sustained greatness is simple: relentless discipline.

During an appearance on “Dubs Talk” with NBC Sports Bay Area’s Bonta Hill and Monte Poole, Crawford didn’t hesitate when asked what keeps a guard like Curry playing at a high level for so long.

“Doing exactly what he’s doing,” Crawford said. “Shape has no age.”

Crawford knows that better than most. The former guard played in the NBA until he was 42, suiting up for nine teams — including the Warriors during the 2008-09 season — and becoming one of the most respected veterans in the league. He won three Sixth Man of the Year awards, made his name as a legendary ballhandler and, in 2019, became the oldest player in NBA history to score 50-plus points in a game when he dropped 51 for the Phoenix Suns at age 39.

So, when he looks at Curry, he recognizes the work behind the results.

Crawford recalled last year’s NBA All-Star Game, when most players had long hit recovery mode. But not Steph.

“Steph went and did a weight-room workout after an All-Star Game,” Crawford explained. “That kind of consistency, that kind of discipline, is why he is who he is.”

Now in his 17th NBA season after being drafted No. 7 overall in 2009, Curry continues to set the standard for veterans who refuse to slow down.

But Crawford said playing deep into your career isn’t luck — it’s commitment.

“It’s a lifestyle change,” Crawford noted. “You start changing your diet, you start stretching, even if you’re sore, you start foam rolling — ice tub. But you get in a routine.”

That’s why watching Curry continue to evolve and dominate year after year doesn’t surprise him.

“I’m sure Steph has his routine,” Crawford said. “He has the best team around him. And he’s very intentional … Not a lot of wasted motion. He knows how to scale it back, when to ramp it up. He’s in tune and the ultimate professional.”

Coming from someone who defied time for two decades, that’s as high a compliment as Curry can get.

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James' 18-year-old record comes to an end

LeBron James reacts after a win over the Toronto Raptors
LeBron James is the league's all-time leading scorer [Reuters]

LeBron James' incredible run of 1,297 regular-season NBA games scoring 10 or more points ended as the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Toronto Raptors 123-120.

James, 40, scored eight points against the Raptors and handed out 11 assists, including the pass for Rui Hachimura to score the buzzer-beating game-winner.

"Just playing the game the right way," said James, who is in his unprecedented 23rd season.

"Always make the right play. That's how I was taught the game."

James last failed to score in double digits in January 2007, breaking Michael Jordan's previous record by 431 games.

James struggled with his shot for much of the night, connecting on just four of 17 and missing all five of his three-point attempts.

With the NBA's leading scorer Luka Doncic absent for personal reasons, Austin Reaves delivered a double-double of 44 points and 10 assists for the Lakers.

In March, James became the first player to score 50,000 points in NBA regular season and play-off matches.