Category: Basketball

After snapping their five-game losing skid, the Milwaukee Bucks look to make it two straight wins when they host the New Orleans Pelicans.

The Pels have dropped the first two games of a four-game road trip, but taking on the Bucks without Giannis Antetokounmpo gives them the edge against the spread in my Pelicans vs. Bucks predictions and NBA picks on Wednesday, February 4.

Pelicans vs Bucks prediction

Pelicans vs Bucks best bet: Pelicans -4.5 (-115)

Life without Giannis Antetokounmpo (calf) hasn’t been great, as the Milwaukee Bucks dropped three straight before beating the Bulls 131-115 on Tuesday.

That point total is an outlier, though, as the Bucks had been averaging just 100 points per game across their previous three outings.

They’re 1-3-0 against the spread without their star, but the ship wasn’t right with "The Greek Freak" at the helm, either, with Milwaukee going just 2-8-0 ATS in its last 10.

The New Orleans Pelicans are struggling too, dropping three of four and averaging just 104.5 points per game, which ranks fourth-worst in the NBA over that span.

The one advantage they do have, and have maxed out on, is playing with a rest advantage.

The Pels are 5-2-0 ATS in that scenario, the second-best mark in the league. Throw in the fact they’ve covered two of the last three against the Bucks, plus no Giannis, and this feels like a good cover for New Orleans, which is 4-2-0 ATS  in its previous six road games.

Pelicans vs Bucks same-game parlay

A Kyle Kuzma scoring binge is a great time to wager the Under on his scoring line. He’s gone for 25+ three times this season, and he’s scored 13 points or less in the follow-up, going for single digits twice.

Trey Murphy III is coming off a 27-point effort last game against Charlotte, but his 22.5-point scoring line is a little inflated, considering he’s topped that mark just twice in his last eight.

Pelicans vs Bucks SGP

• Pelicans -4.5
• Kyle Kuzma Under 17.5 points
• Trey Murphy III Under 22.5 points

Our "from downtown" SGP: Queen of the Court

Bucks guard Ryan Rollins scored 21 against Chicago and has gone for 20+ in four of his last five, making his 19.5 line very gettable.

And Derik Queen has worked the glass well of late, pulling down at least seven rebounds in four of his last six games. Milwaukee is also a Bottom-4 rebounding team in the NBA.

Pelicans vs Bucks SGP

• Pelicans -4.5
• Kyle Kuzma Under 17.5 points
• Trey Murphy III Under 22.5 points
• Ryan Rollins Over 19.5 points
• Derik Queen Over 7.5 rebounds

Pelicans vs Bucks odds

• Spread: Pelicans -4.5 (-115) | Bucks +4.5 (-105)
• Moneyline: Pelicans -185 | Bucks +155
• Over/Under: Over 222.5 (-110) | Under 222.5 (-110)

Pelicans vs Bucks betting trend to know

New Orleans has covered the spread in each of its last seven games as a favorite. Find more NBA betting trends for Pelicans vs. Bucks.

How to watch Pelicans vs Bucks

Pelicans vs Bucks latest injuries

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here

Action around the NBA is starting to heat up. Not only is the league’s trade deadline on Thursday afternoon, next weekend will be the annual All-Star Game in Los Angeles. Currently there are eight former Ohio State players on NBA rosters, and one of them has already been moved ahead of Thursday’s trade deadline.

With the season having already passed the halfway point when it comes to games played, now feels like a good time to give an update on how the former Ohio State players currently in the NBA have been doing this season, and what might be expected for them the rest of the way.

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Mike Conley

After starting more than 60 games in each of the last two seasons for the Minnesota Timberwolves, Mike Conley has seen his role diminish this season, averaging a career-low 18.5 minutes per game and 4.4 points per game.

In the 44 games he has played this season, Conley only reached double figures in three games, scoring 10 points on all of those occasions. The last time the guard hit that mark was on November 19th against the Washington Wizards.

On Tuesday, Conley was shipped to Chicago in a three-team trade that also involved the Detroit Pistons. By moving the veteran guard, Minnesota reduced their luxury tax bill from $24 million to $3.8 million, which will help them in their pursuit of Giannis Anteteokounmpo. The Bulls also acquired Jaden Ivey from the Pistons in the trade, as well as Anfernee Simons in a separate trade.

Unfortunately for Conley it’s unlikely he is going to see much playing time in Chicago. The Bulls are loaded with younger guards, which will likely have Conley riding the bench the rest of the season. Conley’s best hope for seeing any playing time is if he can agree to a buyout with the Bulls and find a team who could use his services.

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Brice Sensabaugh

The most exciting former Buckeye in the NBA this year has been Brice Sensabaugh. Unfortunately Sensabaugh plays for the Utah Jazz, who are one of the worst teams in the league.

Sensabaugh is averaging 12 points per game this season, which is the highest mark of his three-year NBA career so far.

The forward is coming off a January where he averaged 18 points per game, and scored at least 20 points in seven games. His best effort came against Chicago when he scored 43 points. The increased scoring didn’t help Utah on the court, as the Jazz were just 2-11 in games Sensabaugh played in last month.

The rest of the season became a little muddier for Sensabaugh when the Jazz agreed to a trade with Memphis, acquiring Jaren Jackson Jr., Jock Landale, and Vince Williams Jr. from the Grizzlies. The addition of those three players could see Sensabaugh’s minutes cut for the remainder of the season.

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Jae’Sean Tate

While Sensabaugh won’t be sniffing the playoffs this year, Jae’Sean Tate will be in the postseason this year with the Houston Rockets. With Kevin Durant sitting out on Wednesday night, Tate actually had one of his best games of the season, tying a season-high with eight points in a 118-114 win over the Indiana Pacers.

The 2.7 points per game and 8.2 minutes per game are both low marks in the six-year NBA career of Tate, but he has still appeared in 30 games this season for a team that is headed to the playoffs. Even though Tate is far down Houston’s depth chart, if his number is called there is no question that he will give maximum effort on the court.

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D’Angelo Russell

Another former Ohio State player who could be moved before the trade deadline is D’Angelo Russell. The Dallas guard has only appeared in one game in 2026, scoring 8 points in 19 minutes against Chicago on January 10th.

One would think that would injuries to Kyrie Irving and Anthony Davis the Mavericks would want a veteran like Russell on the floor. Instead, Dallas has opted to let rookie Cooper Flagg run the show and is leaning on veterans like Naji Marshall and Max Christie.

In 26 games this season, Russell is averaging 10.2 points per game, which is a career-low. Russell’s best effort of the season came on the first day of November when he scored 31 points against Detroit in a game played in Mexico City.

If Russell isn’t moved at the trade deadline, it is possible he could agree to a contract buyout with the Mavericks and find a team who could use his services down the stretch run of the season.

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Jamison Battle

Following one season at Ohio State, Jamison Battle has spent the first two years of his NBA career with the Toronto Raptors.

Battle’s role is currently a bench guy who usually sees the majority of his playing time in blowouts. Through 36 games this season, Battle is averaging 8.5 minutes per game, which is half the amount of what he received last year.

Battle’s best game of the season came on Halloween when he was a perfect 7-7 from the field, scoring 20 points in a NBA Cup group stage win over Cleveland. Since then Battle has reached double figures in scoring in just two games, with both of those contests coming in December.

Even though he isn’t playing much, at least Battle is on a team heading to the playoffs, as the Raptors currently have a 30-21 record, which is fourth-best in the Eastern Conference.

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Malaki Branham

Another former Buckeye who is seeing less than 10 minutes of playing time per game is Malaki Branham.

The former first round pick is averaging 4.6 points per in 9.8 minutes per contest for the Washington Wizards. In his first season with Washington after three years with the San Antonio Spurs, Branham has appeared in just 28 games.

Despite playing on a team that is just 13-35 this season and riding the bench, Branham is coming off his best game with the team after scoring 17 points in 22 minutes on Friday against the Lakers.

It will be interesting to see if his performance last time out leads to the former Ohio State forward seeing more opportunities the rest of the year with a Washington team that doesn’t have anything to play for.

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E.J. Liddell

Much like Sensabaugh and Branham, E.J. Liddell is on a team that has essentially already been eliminated from playoff contention.

So far in 2026, Liddell has appeared in just three games for a total of 17 minutes. At least Liddell is still playing hard in the little playing time he is receiving. On Sunday, Liddell scored a season-high 5 points in the 130-77 loss to the Detroit Pistons.

Liddell’s situation might be the toughest to deal with, since he isn’t seeing much playing time on a team that is really bad. At least Utah and Washington have some interesting young players on their roster. The same can’t really be said about Brooklyn.

Hopefully the Nets give Liddell some more playing time so he can generate a little bit of interest for wherever the next stop in his NBA journey might be.

Three-game win streaks are on the line Wednesday as the Boston Celtics travel to Toyota Center to face the Houston Rockets.

With Anfernee Simons traded to the Chicago Bulls, my Celtics vs. Rockets predictions call for a strong performance from Payton Pritchard.

Here are my best free NBA picks for this marquee matchup on Wednesday, February 4.

Celtics vs Rockets prediction

Celtics vs Rockets best bet: Payton Pritchard Over 24.5 points + rebounds + assists (-112)

Payton Pritchard is averaging a career-best 26.5 PRA this season, and he’s gone for 25+ in 23 of 49 appearances.

He’s posting 24.7 at home compared to 28 on the road, and he's gone for 25+ in 14 of 24 away games. 

Celtics vs Rockets same-game parlay

The Celtics got smoked in their last matchup with the Rockets, but they're playing better basketball now and should keep this one competitive.

Boston is 16-10 ATS on the road and 6-3 ATS as the road underdog, while Houston is 8-13 ATS at home and 8-12 as the home favorite. 

Celtics vs Rockets SGP

• Payton Pritchard Over 24.5 points + rebounds + assists
• Celtics +5.5
• Under 216

Our "from downtown" SGP: Sengun stuffs stat sheet

Alperen Sengun has hit the Over on this combo line in four straight, and I expect him to extend that streak tonight. He's averaging 16.8 rebounds + assists at home, and he's gone for 16+ in 12 of 17 at Toyota Center.

Celtics vs Rockets SGP

• Payton Pritchard Over 24.5 points + rebounds + assists
• Celtics +5.5
• Under 216
• Alperen Sengun Over 15.5 rebounds + assists

Celtics vs Rockets odds

• Spread: Boston +5.5 (-110) | Houston -5.5 (-110)
• Moneyline: Boston +180 | Houston -220
• Over/Under: Over 216 (-110) | Under 216 (-110)

Celtics vs Rockets betting trend to know

The Rockets have hit the Under in 17 of their last 21 games (+12.60 Units / 55% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Celtics vs. Rockets.

How to watch Celtics vs Rockets

Celtics vs Rockets latest injuries

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here

(All times Central)
Schedule subject to change and/or blackouts
Thursday, February 5
COLLEGE BASKETBALL (MEN'S)
6:30 p.m.

Penn State at Michigan — FS1, Fox Sports App, Fubo Sports

NBA BASKETBALL
7 p.m.

Washington at Detroit — FDSN Detroit, Monumental SN 2, NBA League Pass

The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive TV listings provided by LiveSportsOnTV.

SAN FRANCISCO — As the buzzer sounded and capped the Golden State Warriors' final game before the NBA trade deadline, Draymond Green was on the court sharing laughs and conversations with teammate Stephen Curry and Philadelphia 76ers guard Kyle Lowry.

Was the 113-94 loss on Tuesday, Feb. 3 at Chase Center Green's final game as a Warrior?

The Warriors have had multiple players' names swirling around the rumor mill ahead of the 3 p.m. ET (noon PT) trade deadline on Thursday, Feb. 5, and Green was one of them.

The Warriors' next game against the Phoenix Suns on Feb. 5 at 10 p.m. ET (7 p.m. PT) is after the deadline.

Green has been mentioned in a potential trade that would send him and other Warriors players to the Milwaukee Bucks for Giannis Antetokounmpo, according to ESPN. NBA insider Marc Stein reported on Jan. 23 that Green would be included in a trade, rather than Jimmy Butler, who tore his ACL in a season-ending injury on Jan. 9.

Stein said the potential trade would include Green, Jonathan Kuminga and Brandin Podziemski, who grew up in Greenfield of Milwaukee County in Wisconsin.

The Warriors are willing to trade Draymond Green, Brandin Podziemski, and Jonathan Kuminga for Giannis Antetokounmpo, per @TheSteinLine

“The Stein Line was the first to report on Jan. 23 that Jimmy Butler would not be included in Golden State's Giannis offers and it has since… pic.twitter.com/va391CKEbG

— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) February 4, 2026

Green said after the loss to the Sixers that he doesn't know if he's played his last game for the Warriors.

"Maybe," Green told USA TODAY Sports. "I don't know. I don't foresee it that way. But if I have, like I said it's been an amazing run. But I don't know, we'll see. I don't sit and think about the possibilities of what may happen. It's gon' be what it's gon' be, regardless. That just, it is what it is."

Green finished the game with six points, seven rebounds and three assists in 25 minutes. He wore his jersey during his postgame conference with reporters as he does with most postgame scrums, nothing unusual. But he acknowledged that there's a "possibility" he could be traded.

"It's a possibility that I might get traded. It's kind of just what it's like −yeah but at some point it's going to come to an end," Green told reporters about being involved in trade rumors and his Warriors' tenure. "Whether it's a day or two or a year or two, it's going to come to an end at some point. You got to be okay with that. It's not something that I can hold onto forever because I can't play basketball forever. It's got to come to an end at some point anyway."

More NBA trade news: Sacramento Kings forward De'Andre Hunter adjusts to new digs post-trade

More NBA trade news: Clippers trade James Harden for Cavaliers' Darius Garland: Instant reactions

'Business as usual'

Green is 35 years old. He was drafted by Golden State out of Michigan State with the 35th pick in the 2012 NBA Draft. He's become a Defensive Player of the Year, four-time All-Star and a four-time NBA champion in 14 seasons with the Warriors.

Green told ESPN's Anthony Slater that Warriors head coach Steve Kerr talked to him before the game that his name has been mentioned in trade talks and asked how his wife was handling it. Green said "that's when it got real" to him and he spoke to his son about it on the way to Tuesday's game.

"I was like 'yo what if I get traded?' He was like 'well why would they trade you,'" Green said summarizing the chat pregame with his son. "I was like 'It's just the business. I've never been traded but it can happen to anybody.' He was like 'Oh, I just don't understand why they would do that.'"

He told reporters that he's spoke to the front office, but added, "it's probably not quite the conversation you think it was" and that he talks to them "pretty often."

Green didn't feel like he played his last game with the Warriors. But he reflected on his time in the Bay Area after 13 to 14 years.

He said "it's business as usual."

'All good things must come to an end at some point'

Green has been getting the question for the last couple days now and said "it doesn't wear" on him since he can't control it. If anything, he said, he can't wait for the deadline so people will stop asking him about it.

"A lot of people want to know how I feel about it, if I'm upset about it, I'm not at all," Green said. "If that's what's best for this organization, that's what's best for this organization. I'm not like 'aww man, they (expletive) me over' or something like that, I don't really feel that way."

Green has averaged 8.4 points, 5.7 rebounds, 5.2 assists, 0.9 steals and 0.7 blocks in 42 games with the Warriors in the 2025-26 regular-season. For his 14-year NBA career, he averages 8.7 points, 6.9 rebounds, 5.6 assists, 1.3 steals and 1 block per game.

He won the 2017 NBA Defensive Player of the Award after being named runner-up in 2015 and 2016. Green has made NBA All-Defensive team nine times.

Kerr said that Green will have a statue outside of the Chase Center for what he's meant to the franchise, on 95.7FM The Game's Willard and Dibs radio show.

"[Draymond and I] have talked [about the trade rumors]. I think what's really tricky for Draymond is this is the only place he's ever known. He's going to have a statue outside the building someday.

Really weird position for him to be in for sure because there's never really… pic.twitter.com/JmBG1tvgR0

— 95.7 The Game (@957thegame) February 3, 2026

"If you would have told me 13 and a half years ago like 'yo I'm going to hand you this sheet of paper and you can sign it to be in a place for 13 years and a half years, would you sign it?' I would've signed it faster than you can blink," Green told reporters. "So what do I have to sit and worry about? What do I have to be upset about? I've been here for 13 and 1/2 years. That's longer probably than 98% of NBA players have been in one place and a guy from Saginaw has been in one place for 13 and a half years. I don't know that it ends at 13 and a half, but if it does what a (expletive) run it's been."

He's seemingly content with whatever his destiny may be. There's no animosity from Green towards the Warriors, he said that he's "blessed," "lucky" and "grateful."

"My family hasn't had to move anywhere since I started my family," Green said. "That's incredible. I don't take that for granted. There's guys that's been on the move every year, moving their family two, three times in a year. So, I have so much gratitude for where I am in my career, the run I've been on here And I don't know that it ends or what not. We'll all see. But if it does, it does. All good things must come to an end at some point."

If it comes to a point where Green needs to say goodbye, then he'll say goodbye, he said.

The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Draymond Green reacts to trade rumors after Warriors vs 76ers game

This came across my social media feed recently and I must admit, I got caught up in the scroll. Clickbait aside, there are some interesting trades that made quite a difference for a player or a team.

Some highlights:

#47- Hawks trade Rasheed Wallace to the Pistons (2004). This was an immediate impact as the Pistons won the Championship that year against a stacked Los Angeles Lakers. And the trade was lopsided as thr Hawks made no real gains from the exchange.

#44- Pelicans trade for Dejounte Murray (2024). Murray has struggled to find a home, and injuries haven’t helped. Dyson Daniels has shined for the ATL, making the trade even worse for New Orleans.

#42- Suns trade for Kevin Durant (2023). Just the thought that trading for KD could be a bad thing makes me shudder. While KD is still one of the purest scores, his time to lead a team toward championship seems to have passed.

#40- Spurs trade Dennis Rodman to thre Bulls (1995). This is the first trade listed involving the Silver & Black. While Rodman is the greatest rebounder of all-time, San Antonio seems to be where he decided to let his freak flag fly. But The Alamo City, with its heritage and military background, was not the spot for him to plant it. The Spurs took a hit on the trade in hopes of retaining the Spurs culture through its leader David Robinson.

#35 and #34 both involve Damian Lillard, but Portland is not the loser on either.

#27 Timberwolves trade Kevin Garnett to Celtics (2007). Celtics get a Defensive Player of the Year and a title in KG’s first year. Minnesota got some pieces who never panned out and still seek a title.

#25 Cavs trade the pick that becomes James Worthy (1980). Can you imagine the different trajedctory for the Los Angeles Lakers had they not acquired James Worthy?

#19 Pacers trade Kawhi Leonard to Spurs on draft night (2011). Love him or despise him, he brought a lot to San Antonio in his time with the Spurs. The 2014 Finals MVP impeded LeBron’s three-peat and grabbed a pair of Defensive Player of the Year trophies during his time in San Antonio.

#17 Luka Doncic on draft night. You think that was a bad idea not knowing hoe Trae Young and Doncic would develop, check out #1…

#10 Hornets trade Kobe Bryant to the Lakers (1996). And the legacy begins.

#7 SGA to OKC while Paul George heads to Clippers. It sounded good at the time. No one knew just how Shai Gilgeous-Alexander would blow up. Hindsight.

Here’s the link to the entire article.

Did any of these trades stand out to you?

There were multiple bad trades involving the same teams, or the same players. What does that say about front offices and the longevity of a player? How about those few that traded for franchise legends- Kobe, Dirk, Dr. J, Bill Russell all could have (should have?) ended up on other teams.

Lots to unpack here.

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Tuesday night in Portland, and a late one at that, the Suns came out flat. Really flat. Like a team that knew it was a quick one-game hop to Rip City before heading back home and treated it accordingly. The opening stretch was brutal. One of the worst quarters of basketball they have played all season, at least for the first half of it. They found their footing late, but not before staring at a 41-30 deficit.

For the second straight game, the paint was a problem. A big one. Second-chance points piled up fast. 23 of them in the first half alone, fueled by 11 offensive rebounds. And then came the stat that made you double-take. Portland, the worst three-point shooting team in the league, went 13-of-30 from deep. When everything that can go wrong does go wrong, that is usually what it looks like. And for the first time this season, it genuinely felt like the effort was missing.

Here is the contrast. You still cannot bury this team.

Even before halftime, the Suns started clawing. Down 19 at one point, they trimmed it to five by the break. The second half was a different story altogether. Their brand of basketball finally arrived, even if it took an extra quarter to unpack. And once again, the third quarter was the turning point. They outscored the Blazers 34-22 and flipped the entire feel of the game.

Consistency is the standard, and that is where the Suns reasserted themselves after halftime. This was a strange game. The late start played a role. So did the sluggish opening. This team usually brings its effort wire to wire, and you rarely see them come out as flat as they did. But the defining trait of this season showed itself again. The ability to recover. To settle. To respond.

That showed up in Portland. And it continues to be the reason this team keeps finding its way out of uncomfortable nights.

Bright Side Baller Season Standings

The matchup against the Clippers was a descent into pure basketball sludge, yet Grayson Allen clawed his way through the wreckage to emerge as the Bright Side Baller.

Bright Side Baller Nominees

Game 51 against the Trail Blazers. Here are your nominees:

Collin Gillespie
30 points (10-of-17, 8-of-14 3PT, 2-of-2 FT), 4 rebounds, 10 assists, 3 steals, 1 turnover, +5 +/-

Mark Williams
24 points (11-of-14, 0-of-0 3PT, 2-of-3 FT), 12 rebounds, 1 assist, 0 steals, 1 block, 1 turnover, -7 +/-

Grayson Allen
24 points (9-of-18, 6-of-11 3PT), 1 rebound, 3 assists, 1 steal, 3 turnovers, +1 +/-

Jordan Goodwin
16 points (6-of-9, 2-of-4 3PT, 2-of-4 FT), 10 rebounds, 2 assists, 5 steals, 0 turnovers, +9 +/-

Royce O’Neale
11 points (5-of-12, 1-of-5 3PT), 7 rebounds, 0 assists, 2 steals, 2 turnovers, +2 +/-

Dillon Brooks
11 points (3-of-16, 1-of-4 3PT, 4-of-4 FT), 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 2 turnovers, -4 +/-

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‘Twas a late night in Rip City. Who gets your vote?

The frenzied final 48 hours before Thursday’s 3 p.m. ET NBA trade deadline posed a challenge for the Celtics as they arrived in Dallas to face Cooper Flagg and the Mavericks.

Hours before tip-off, the Celtics reportedly traded guard Anfernee Simons to the Bulls for center Nikola Vučević. Simons was immediately downgraded from available to out due to personal reasons, stripping Boston of its leading bench scorer and leaving a void in the rotation. Luka Garza, finding confidence beyond the arc in Dallas, filled that void.

Garza played 20 minutes off the bench in Boston’s 110-100 win on Tuesday night, and carved out his domain at the top of the key, rewarding feeds from Payton Pritchard.

“That’s generally where you get most of your shots off the pick-and-pop. It’s always an above-the-break kind of area, so I try to work on that a lot,” Garza told reporters, per CLNS Media. “Over time, I’ve grown more and more confident in it, and my teammates trust me. If I get it and get into a good rhythm stepping into the ball, I feel like I’m knocking it down.”

Three times, Garza used the pick-and-pop to create space at the top of the key, and three times he knocked down a 3-pointer from that spot. He finished with 16 points on a perfect 4-for-4 shooting from deep, tying his career high for made threes in a game. It marked Garza’s most in-sync performance from beyond the arc in a Celtics uniform, as he grew into a critical part of the offense throughout the night.

“Anytime you can catch a rhythm and make some shots in a stretch like that where our offense is really going, it’s definitely big time,” Garza told reporters. “So I know they’re important, especially when we’re playing guys like Gafford who are sitting in a drop. One way you can expose that is by stretching the floor and giving guys more space. That’s what I’m trying to do.”

Garza’s four made 3-pointers tied his second-most attempts in a game this season and marked the fifth time in his career he has hit at least three.

Boston’s ability to lean on Garza as a floor spacer — a role he rarely occupies — helped offset the loss of Simons in a way opposing defenses wouldn’t typically anticipate. Garza is shooting a career-best 47.6 percent from three on limited volume (1.5 attempts per game), well above his career average of 36.1 percent. Typically, his greatest impact comes on the offensive glass, where he turns teammates’ misses into second-chance opportunities and forces opponents to pay for defensive miscues.

In Dallas, Garza showcased one of the most important aspects of his growth: his versatility.

“Luka is able to give us advantages in different ways,” Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla told reporters, per CLNS Media. “Sometimes he’ll force a veer and get us an offensive rebound. Sometimes he’ll just get us open threes. Today, it was his ability to pop and force 2-on-1s that way. I thought we missed him on a couple in the first half, then our guys made an adjustment and got him open looks in the second half, which forced them into different defensive coverages and allowed us to execute in different ways.”

As the Mavericks focused on guarding Boston’s usual offensive threats, such as Jaylen Brown, Derrick White, and Pritchard, Garza capitalized on the openings he found. He recognized that Dallas wasn’t accounting for him as a perimeter threat, and he turned it to his advantage, proving he could knock down multiple three-pointers and become a legitimate weapon from that spot on the floor.

Garza’s efforts to build confidence as a shooter didn’t come at the expense of his usual duties as a backup frontcourt player. He still grabbed four rebounds (all offensive), added two steals, an assist, and a block, proving he can be a Swiss Army knife in limited minutes off the bench.

“I thought Luka was great in the second half,” Mazzulla added.

With Simons out of the equation, Mazzulla was forced to make adjustments. He removed Pritchard from the starting lineup for the first time this season, slotting him into the sixth-man role, and moved Baylor Scheierman into the starting five. It was a change, but not one the Celtics weren’t prepared for, as they had spent the season stressing the importance of their core principles and delivering a clean, on-brand 48 minutes of basketball.

This approach allowed Boston to withstand Flagg’s 36 points while also creating an opportunity for Garza to take a step forward in his development.

“This year, our margin for error has been slim,” Brown told reporters, per CLNS Media. “If we don’t come to play, if the other team wins the margins, we’ll lose games that we’re supposed to win. Those film sessions we’ve had — I call them Celtics University — it’s like a classroom. Everybody’s got their notepads, asking questions, breaking down the film and the details of everything, because the details are most important. The difference between good and great players is the details.”

Several former Maryland men’s basketball players have impressed away from College Park this season, giving Terps fans something to root for.

Former star Jahmir Young has been one of the most impressive ones, and that was rewarded Tuesday.

Young is one of 26 G League players selected to participate in events during the NBA’s All-Star Weekend. He will play for Team Red in the Next Up Game and also participate in the 3-point contest.

Back-to-back for Jahmir Young! ⭐️

The @miamiheat Two-Way signee has been selected to his second straight #NBAGLeagueNextUpGame presented by @att. pic.twitter.com/p5YzCsxfbG

— NBA G League (@nbagleague) February 3, 2026

Young has had a stellar season for the Sioux Falls Skyforce. He averages 26.6 points per game (second-most in the G League) and 9.7 assists per game (third-most in the G League) while also contributing six rebounds and 2.3 steals an outing.

Those contributions on the court were rewarded earlier in the year, with the Miami Heat converting Young’s deal to a two-way contract, which allows him to occasionally play in the NBA. He has totaled 34 minutes over seven games for the Heat — including 11 minutes in games on Feb. 1 and Feb. 3 — and shot 6-of-15 from the field, totaling 14 points, six assists, three rebounds and two turnovers.

That could lead to more NBA playing time for Young, who was originally signed as an undrafted free agent by the Chicago Bulls in 2024, waived in July and picked up by the Heat a month later.

NBA All-Star 2026 is based in Los Angeles this year. The 3-point contest will take place Feb. 14 at 2:30 p.m., and the Next Up Game will take place Feb. 15 at 2:30 p.m. Both events are available to watch on the NBA Channel and the NBA App.

In other news

Maryland men’s lacrosse’s season-opening game against Loyola (Md.) has been moved indoors.

Another big schedule update. I’m told Saturdays @TerpsMLax vs @LoyolaMLAX game has officially been moved indoors to Jones-Hill House.

— James Hogan V (@james_hoganv) February 3, 2026

Three Maryland wrestlers remain ranked in the top 20 nationally at their weight class.

Holding strong in the rankings 🐢💪#TurtlePower🐢💪 x #TFINpic.twitter.com/ag1QGyn2hb

— Maryland Wrestling (@TerpsWrestling) February 3, 2026

Maryland football extended an offer to four-star class of 2027 defensive lineman Sam LeJeune and class of 2027 wide receiver Bryan Porter.

Blessed to receive my 20th d1 offer from @4GoLive to Maryland. Baltimore remix. pic.twitter.com/oZc3BM8uXi

— Sam LeJeune (@sam_lejeune08) February 3, 2026

I am extremely blessed and honored to receive an offer from Maryland. @bccoachvito@BCBROTHERHOOD@D_Wrobo@CoachLocks@Latrell__Scott@ChadSimmons_@TomLoy247@BrianDohn247@BrandonHuffman@KinslerLatish@adamgorneypic.twitter.com/1yzh1a73Qx

— Bryan Porter (@bryan_porter08) February 3, 2026

Maryland men’s basketball alum Kevin Huerter got dealt to the Detroit Pistons ahead of the NBA trade deadline.

Just in: Chicago, Minnesota and Detroit have agreed to a multi-team deal that sends Jaden Ivey and Mike Conley Jr. to the Bulls and Kevin Huerter and Dario Saric to the Pistons, sources tell ESPN. Detroit also receives a 2026 first-round protected swap from Minnesota. pic.twitter.com/pgxqr1WT90

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 3, 2026

Maryland men’s basketball’s Diggy Coit’s story was beautifully covered by the Big Ten Network.

Diggy Coit had no offers out of high school.

He worked hard to lose weight and delivered pizzas during his free time.

The Journey shares the record-setting @TerrapinHoops star's long path to College Park 👇 pic.twitter.com/8zPlB22F7M

— Maryland On BTN (@MarylandOnBTN) February 3, 2026

James Harden is set to join the Cleveland Cavaliers from the Los Angeles Clippers, with Darius Garland moving in the opposite direction after the sides agreed a trade.

Harden, 36, is an 11-time NBA All-Star and regarded as one of the greatest guards in history, but he has never won an NBA title.

Although the deal is yet to be confirmed by the NBA, Harden said the opportunity to win a first championship was key in deciding to move.

The Cavaliers are fifth in the Eastern Conference in their pursuit of a play-off spot, while the Clippers are ninth in the West.

"I see an opportunity to win in the East - they got a very good team, coaching staff, all of the above," Harden told ESPN.

"As much as I wanted to stay in LA and give it a go, I've never won one before. As a basketball mind, I think we have a bit better chance."

Harden has helped the Clippers climb the table after a dismal 6-21 start this season, but sat out Sunday's defeat by the Philadelphia 76ers while talks with the Cavaliers progressed.

Harden, who won the NBA's Most Valuable Player Award in 2018 while with the Houston Rockets, denied speculation that he requested a trade from the Clippers.

"That wasn't the case at all. In life, not even just basketball, when things don't work out, there are ways to end things in relationships without having to crack each other," he said.

"Maybe we just don't see a future with each other. Maybe we just outgrew each other. Whatever the case may be, I feel like our situations weren't like that."

Across stints at five franchises, Harden has scored 28,805 points, putting him ninth on the NBA's all-time list.

The Cavaliers have not won a title since 2016.

Garland, 26, averages 18 points this season in a campaign blighted by injury.

As part of the trade, the Clippers secured a second-round pick for this year's draft.

The Clippers host the Cavaliers on Wednesday, but Harden and Garland must pass medicals before the trade is confirmed.

The Spurs are back in the win column again, just in time for a visit from the NBA’s best team (by record), fresh off of their 40th win of the season.

The Spurs have had the Thunder’s number for most of the season, with a 3-1 record against them, but the Thunder finally flipped the tables in the last contest with a 21-point win, and I expect they’ll be out to avenge both their record against San Antonio and the once-building sentiment that they’re in the reigning champs’ collective heads.

The book is out on how the Spurs can defeat OKC. They must deny penetration and interior scoring, refrain from giving the Thunder any breathing room beyond the arc, and avoid getting sloppy against the team that leads the NBA in points off turnovers.

Rebounding (4th) will assist in denying the Thunder extra possessions and keeping them from getting easy points from an offense that’s spent most of the season in the top 10 for points scored in the paint.

While the Thunder are near the top of the league in Effective Field Goal Percentage (4th) and True Shooting Percentage (3rd), a vulnerability has been exposed by the Spurs in their long-distance shooting.

Oklahoma City sits in the middle of the pack in both three-point percentage (15th) and three-pointers made (15th), and their offense simply does not move anywhere near as fluidly when they’re having difficultly inside.

It’s possible that this is related to a shortage of distributors, but whether it’s a personnel issue or their ball-movement’s Achilles heel is a matter of debate. That they’re 18th in assists, 28th in assist percentage, and 18th in assist ratio is not. Something goes amiss when they’re denied the interior, suggesting their offense is riding a fine line between team-play and heliocentric distribution.

Offensively, the Spurs will need to push the pace at every opportunity, exercise patience in picking the stingy Thunder defense apart, and make the paint their home. The Thunder are tops in the league in fast break defense and denying points in the paint, but the speed of San Antonio’s guards and Wemby’s length have positioned them as one of the few teams that can create advantages in those areas.

And, of course, the Spurs will need their long-distance shooters to be firing on all cylinders. A lot of San Antonio’s games have gone as their three-point shooting has gone, and that’s led to a bit of scuffling over the last month.

It’s very unlikely they’ll taste victory if that goes poorly against the Thunder, unless they can return the favor defensively. That could be a lofty challenge with perimeter-defending maestro Stephon Castle out for the night.

Still, this Spurs team has proven that the Thunder are not some unbeatable juggernaut, and they seem to play them with maximum focus, confidence, and drive. Their playbook against the Thunder has given other teams ideas, and OKC is coming into this one at 6-4 over the last ten games (identical to the Spurs), so don’t be surprised if they come away with another victory against a Thunder team that refuses to acknowledge how good they actually are.

Now, if we could only get them to play this way against everyone!

Oklahoma City Thunder (40-11) vs San Antonio Spurs(33-16)

February 4th, 2026 | 8:30 PM CT

Watch: ESPN/FanDuel Southwest| Listen: WOAI (1200 AM)

Spurs Injuries: Jeremy Sochan – Out (Quad), Lindy Waters III – Out (Knee), Stephon Castle – Doubtful (Groin)

Thunder Injuries: Thomas Sorber – Out (Knee), Nikola Topic – Out (Cancer), Ajay Mitchell – Day-t0-Day (Abdominal Strain), Jalen Williams – Out (Hamstring)

The Los Angeles Clippers had won 16 of their last 20 games to roar back into the fringes of the Western Conference playoff race. Which is when James Harden decided he wasn’t going to play for the team again without a contract extension. Now he’s a member of the Cleveland Cavaliers.

BREAKING: The Los Angeles Clippers are trading James Harden to the Cleveland Cavaliers for Darius Garland and a second-round pick, sources tell ESPN. Prolific swap of the star point guards. pic.twitter.com/IHhhhabJnX

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 4, 2026

That’s not ESPN’s finest Photoshop work on that graphic.

Harden demanded a trade last week after the Clippers rejected his request for a two-year extension to his contract, reportedly worth roughly $40M per season, which would wreck the Clippers’ long-standing plan to max out their cap space in the summer of 2027, when many contracts, including that of tree-lover Kawhi Leonard, expire.

Plus, Steve Ballmer may have bristled at paying top dollar for Harden at age 38, much as the Philadelphia 76ers balked at giving Harden a maximum contract extension back in the summer of 2023, when Harden demanded a trade, refused to play, and called team president Daryl Morey a liar during a trip to China, admittedly a country that’s very sympathetic to Daryl Morey slander.

James Harden: “Daryl Morey is a liar and I will never be a part of an organization that he’s a part of. Let me say that again: Daryl Morey is a liar and I will never be a part of an organization that he’s a part of.” pic.twitter.com/AmHJ0WwbF2

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) August 14, 2023

How did it come to this? Part of it comes from the Clippers signing Harden to an overly-clever deal where he has a 2026-27 player option worth $42.3M he must exercise by June 29, but the Clippers can waive him by July 11 and owe him only $13.3M. This was a smart move to save money and a dumb move for anyone who has paid attention to Harden’s feelings about contracts for the last five years.

Once Harden was playing well this season — and he has been a borderline All-Star, averaging 25.4 points and 8.1 assists — that option became a ticking time bomb. He wasn’t going to risk picking up his option and then getting waived, nor was he willing to roll the dice on unrestricted free agency. Even when he was unhappy with the Sixers in 2023, Harden still picked up his player option, choosing to wait months for a trade rather than simply become a free agent.

This author would guess we will hear news of a Harden extension soon. He was happy to go to the Cavaliers, even though it meant foregoing most of his 15% trade kicker.

In return, the Clippers received two-time All-Star Darius Garland, who is 10 years younger than Harden and the son of former Golden State Warriors guard Winston Garland, the last active NBA player to be named “Winston.” (Cassius Winston has been out of the league since 2022, and he doesn’t count.) In a sign of how far Garland’s star has fallen, it was the Cavs who had to include a second-round pick to complete the deal.

Why did Cleveland make this move? Some of it is his fit alongside 6-foot-2 Donovan Mitchell, another small guard, which teams have exploited in the playoffs. Some of it is his contract, which costs roughly $87M for the next two seasons. The Cavaliers traded De’Andre Hunter earlier this week for Dennis Schroder and Keon Ellis in a move that saved them $50M in payroll and luxury taxes combined. Ditching Garland reduces their future liability, and they could get under the second luxury tax apron by trading Lonxo Ball before Thursday’s deadline.

The biggest factor might be Garland’s recent history of injuries. He was hobbled during last year’s playoffs with a toe injury that he’s continued to battle this year, and has underperformed his regular-season averages in his playoff career.

It’s a rare situation where adding James Harden actually might give Cleveland a better playoff performer. And if Harden does falter in the playoffs (he’s definitely going to falter in the playoffs), the Cavaliers do have Ellis and Schroder off the bench, and sophomore sensation Jaylon Tyson, the second-best former California Golden Bear named Jaylen/Jaylon in the NBA.

The Clippers got an escape ramp off their aging roster with an actual young player with actual talent, though they probably get worse this season. The Warriors don’t have to see their old friend The Beard until April 2. Harden gets to hang out with Cleveland legends Machine Gun Kelly, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, and Flo from Progressive. The Cavaliers get one of the greatest scorers, partiers, and floppers in NBA history. And there’s still a day and a half before the trade deadline!

FRESNO, Calif. (AP) — Jake Heidbreder scored 29 points and his basket from the left baseline at the buzzer gave Fresno State an improbable 98-96 win over UNLV on Tuesday night.

The Bulldogs (11-11, 5-6 Mountain West) outscored UNLV 9-4 in the final 23 seconds to steal the win.

Zaon Collins scored 16 points, DeShawn Gory and reserve Bastien Rieber each scored 15 points and Wilson Jacques 10 for Fresno State which shot 59% (29 of 49) including 53% (8 of 15) from 3-point range.

Fresno State managed to overcome 15 turnovers to just 11 assists.

Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn scored 28 points, Howie Fleming Jr. scored 23 points and Kimani Hamilton 14 for UNLV (10-12, 5-6).

Down 96-93, David Douglas Jr. made a 32-foot, 3-pointer with 1.5-seconds left to bring Fresno State into a 96-all tie.

On the ensuing inbounds, Howie Fleming Jr. overthrew Naas Cunningham on the other end of the floor and the ball went out of bounds to give possession back to Fresno State at its basket.

After an officials review to confirm Fresno State possession, Heidbreder faked an attempt to set a screen and froze his defender. He then sprinted to the baseline for a clean look from 14 feet to end it.

Up Next

UNLV: Hosts Grand Canyon on Saturday.

Fresno State: Travels to play Nevada on Saturday.

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PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Collin Gillespie scored a career-high 30 points, Mark Williams had 24 points and 12 rebounds, and the Phoenix Suns bounced back from a slow start for a 130-125 win over the reeling Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday night.

Grayson Allen also scored 24 points on 11-of-14 shooting and Jordan Goodwin had 16 points and 10 rebounds on a night when the Suns played without leading scorer Devin Booker (25.4 points per game), who was out with a right ankle sprain. Jalen Green was also out of the Suns' lineup.

Gillespie tied a career high with eight made 3-pointers and also had 10 assists.

Jerami Grant had 23 points to lead Portland, which lost its sixth straight game. Donovan Clingan had 14 points and 15 rebounds. Shaedon Sharpe added 19 points for Portland.

The Trail Blazers also played without their leading scorer and second-leading rebounder, Deni Avdija (25.5 points per game), who has a lower back strain and was just named to his first All-Star game.

Vit Krejci had five points in his Portland debut after being acquired in a trade with Atlanta.

Portland jumped to a 41-30 lead after one quarter but Phoenix pulled within 72-67 at halftime. The Suns took control by outscoring the Blazers 34-22 in the third quarter.

Williams’ layup with 3:55 left in the third quarter put the Suns ahead for good at 88-87.

The Trail Blazers turned the ball over 17 times, six more times than the Suns.

Up next

Suns: Return home to play Golden State on Thursday night.

Trail Blazers: Host Memphis on Friday night.

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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.