Category: Basketball

Basketball News

Posted on

Justice Carlton leads Texas to victory over Kentucky with 17 points

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Justice Carlton scored 17 points and No. 4 Texas overcame poor second-half offense to defeat No. 18 Kentucky 64-53 on Monday night.

The Longhorns (23-2, 8-2 SEC) improved to 9-2 against AP Top 25 teams while winning their 40th straight home game, the longest streak in the nation. But this one was in doubt until the final few minutes.

Kentucky (18-7, 5-6) trailed by 14 before the midway point in the third quarter, but found itself down by just one point after a basket by Clara Strack with 6:23 remaining in the game. Texas responded with four free throws by Kyla Oldacre and a 3-pointer by Carlton with 3:54 left for a 56-50 lead after Madison Booker grabbed the rebound of a missed 3 by Jordan Lee.

Texas made six straight free throws in the final 1:25 to secure the win. Lee scored 13, the only Longhorns player other than Carlton in double figures.

Asia Boone led Kentucky with 16 points and Strack added 14. The Wildcats shot just 39% from the field and committed a season-high 23 turnovers.

NO. 5 VANDERBILT 102, NO. 10 OKLAHOMA 86

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Mikayla Blakes scored 34 points as Vanderbilt beat Oklahoma.

After getting outscored in the first half of their last four games, the Commodores (23-2, 9-2 Southeastern) scored 59 points on their way to a 19-point halftime lead.

Oklahoma (17-6, 5-5) took its only lead when Payton Verhulst hit a 3-pointer just eight seconds into the game. Justine Pissott answered with a 3 that sparked a 12-2 run and Vanderbilt never again trailed. The Commodore took their biggest lead at 51-25 when Blakes converted a three-point play with 6:17 left in the second quarter.

Aubrey Galvan had a career high 30 points, 17 in the first half. Her previous high was 20 in Vanderbilt’s 72-69 win over No. 7 Michigan on Jan. 19.

Pissott had 16 points and Ndjakalenga Mwenentanda had 13 points and nine rebounds for Vanderbilt.

Posted on

No. 9 Kansas beats top-ranked and previously unbeaten Arizona 82-78

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Flory Bidunga had a double-double and No. 9 Kansas defeated top-ranked and previously unbeaten Arizona 82-78 on Monday night.

Arizona (23-1, 10-1 Big 12) entered Allen Fieldhouse with the second-longest winning streak in Division I men’s basketball.

Kansas (19-5, 9-2) played without freshman guard Darryn Peterson, who was a late scratch with flu-like symptoms. Peterson has missed 11 games with a combination of hamstring, calf and ankle issues.

Arizona held a three-point lead at halftime and led by as many as 11 before Kansas took its first lead of the game at the 9:32 mark in the second half.

Bidunga put the Jayhawks ahead with a layup, which capped a personal seven-point run. He finished with 23 points on 8-for-11 shooting and added 10 rebounds.

Arizona closed within one point with 34 seconds left in the game, but senior guard Melvin Council Jr. shot 3 of 4 from the line in the final minute and 10 of 11 in the game to help seal the victory for Kansas. He finished with 23 points. Tre White also added a pair of late free throws.

Four Kansas players scored double digits. Bryson Tiller finished with 18 points and Jamari McDowell added 10.

Freshman guard Brayden Burries led Arizona with 25 points. Motiejus Krivas scored 14 and Ivan Kharchenkov 13.

NO. 7 ST. JOHN'S 87, XAVIER 82, OT

NEW YORK (AP) — Zuby Ejiofor scored six of his 25 points in overtime and St. John’s outlasted pesky Xavier at Madison Square Garden for its 10th consecutive victory.

With his 904th career win on the court, Hall of Fame coach Rick Pitino passed Roy Williams for third place in Division I history behind Mike Krzyzewski (1,202) and Jim Boeheim (1,116).

It was Pitino’s second victory in 17 days over his son, Richard, the first-year coach of the Musketeers. In the previous meeting, the elder Pitino earned his 900th win when the Johnnies rallied from a 16-point deficit in the second half for an 88-83 victory at Xavier.

Bryce Hopkins added 19 points and nine rebounds for the Red Storm (19-5, 12-1 Big East), who won for the 15th time in 17 games and tied No. 6 UConn atop the conference standings.

St. John’s was coming off a rousing win Friday night at The Garden over the rival Huskies.

Dylan Darling had 16 points, five rebounds and four assists off the bench for the Johnnies. Ejiofor provided seven rebounds, five assists and two steals.

St. John’s went 28 for 41 (68%) at the free-throw line, its most foul shots since taking 44 against Lehigh in November 2011.

Tre Carroll, the Big East’s leading scorer, had 21 points and eight rebounds for the Musketeers (12-12, 4-9), who have lost five of six and eight of 11.

NO. 24 LOUISVILE 118, NC STATE 77

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Mikel Brown Jr. had 10 3-pointers and scored an Atlantic Coast Conference freshman single-game record 45 points as Louisville routed N.C. State.

Ryan Conwell added 31 and the Cardinals (18-6, 8-4 Atlantic Coast Conference) shot 60% for the game.

Brown eclipsed the previous ACC freshman record of 42 points, set last season by Duke’s Cooper Flagg. The 45 points also tied Hall of Famer Wes Unseld’s single-game Louisville scoring mark, set on Dec. 1, 1967, against Georgetown College.

After up-and-down scoring outputs in five games since returning from a lower back injury, the heralded freshman guard had 21 points with five 3s by halftime before erasing LaBradford Smith’s school freshman mark of 32 midway through the second.

Brown’s record-tying 3 came with 2:09 remaining, bringing a huge cheer from a white-clad crowd of 14,389 eager to see if he’d approach Unseld’s school mark.

He finished 14 of 23 from the field with a career-best 10 of 16 from beyond the arc, topping his previous best of 29 points against rival Kentucky in December. That had ranked fourth-best all time among Louisville freshmen coming in.

Louisville started off hot and didn’t cool off much, shooting 58% in the first half and finishing 39 of 65 overall. The Cardinals’ total included 18 3-pointers on 30 attempts, tying their second-highest output this season.

Ven-Allen Lubin had 20 points and Tre Holloman 19 for N.C. State (18-7, 9-3), which had won six in a row and entered 6-0 in ACC road games. The Wolfpack shot 41% and made just 18% from deep.

Posted on

Four players ejected after fight breaks out between Pistons, Hornets

Suspensions are coming after a massive fight broke out Monday night between the Pistons and Hornets.

It had been a physical game, especially in the paint, and that came to a head midway through the third quarter. Detroit was inbounding the ball, when Detroit's Jalen Duren and Charlotte's Moussa Diabate had some words. When the ball was inbounded, it ended up with Duren, who turned to score and was fouled by Diabate. Then those two got face-to-face and had words again, which is when Duren pushed Diabate away in the face, Diabate got angry and went at Duren taking swings while Tobias Harris held him back, and boy, that escalated quickly, as lot of people joined in the fight.

Charlotte's Diabate and Miles Bridges were ejected, as were Detroit's Duren and Isaiah Stewart.

Expect multiple suspensions and fines from the league office. Stewart is going to get the worst of it, he left the bench to jump into the fray — a cardinal sin in the league's eyes — plus he has a history of being in the middle of dust-ups.

This fight did not ease all the tensions around this game. In the fourth quarter, Charlotte coach Charles Lee was ejected and had to be held back by his assistants while yelling at officials over a no-call after Hornets forward Grant Williams.

In the end, Detroit snapped Charlotte's nine-game winning streak 110-104, behind 33 points from Cade Cunningham.

Posted on

Stephen Curry out for NBA All-Star Game due to knee issue, coach Steve Kerr announces

Stephen Curry was voted an All-Star starter by the fans, but will sit out the game due to a case of "runner's knee," Warriors coach Steve Kerr announced Monday.

Curry will miss his fourth straight game Monday due to right patellofemoral pain syndrome — commonly called "runner's knee" — but Kerr said he will be out longer than that, as reported by Dalton Johnson at NBC Sports Bay Area. He also will miss Wednesday night's game against the Spurs, but with the games he missed and the All-Star break, Curry will have almost three weeks to rest his knee and get it right.

"He's doing well," Kerr said. "That's the hope. It's really kind of a day-to-day thing, so it's hard to predict for sure whether he'll be playing that first game after the break, but that's definitely the hope. The idea is if he can get through everything this week that puts him on pace to be playing then."

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver will select a replacement for Curry on the USA Stripes team for this year's All-Star Game in the USA vs. World format (more on that below). This is Curry's 12th time as an All-Star.

Curry, 37, is averaging 27.2 points and 4.8 assists per game while shooting 39.1% from 3-point range. The Warriors will have to continue trying to generate offense without Curry or Jimmy Butler (out for the season with a torn ACL).

All-Star Game format

This year, the NBA All-Star Game returns to NBC and debuts on Peacock — and it falls right in the middle of the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics. That was a perfect setup for the first-of-its-kind All-Star Game format, a USA vs. World showdown that fans and players have been asking for.

The 24 All-Star players have been divided into three teams, two USA teams — USA Stripes and USA Stars — and one World Team. Those three teams will compete in a round-robin tournament of four 12-minute games, each team playing at least two games. At the end of the round-robin, the two top teams will play a championship game (the fourth 12-minute game of the day) for the title. (If there is a tie it comes down to point differential.)

The 75th NBA All-Star Game will take place on Sunday, Feb. 15, at 5 p.m. Eastern, an earlier time than in previous years, leading into more coverage of the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics.

How to watch NBA on NBC and Peacock:

Every moment of All-Star Weekend — the Rising Stars challenge on Friday. (Feb. 13), All-Star Saturday Night with the 3-Point Contest and Dunk Contest (Feb. 14), as well as the All-Star Game on Sunday, Feb. 15 — will be broadcast on NBC and Peacock.

The 75th NBA All-Star Game will take place on Sunday, Feb. 15, at 5 p.m. Eastern, a time earlier than in previous years, leading into more coverage of the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics.

Peacock NBA Monday will stream up to three Monday night games each week throughout the regular season. Coast 2 Coast Tuesday presents doubleheaders on Tuesday nights throughout the regular season on NBC and Peacock. On most Tuesdays, an 8 p.m. ET game will be on NBC stations in the Eastern and Central time zones, and an 8 p.m. PT game on NBC stations in the Pacific and often Mountain time zones.

Check local listings each week. Both games will stream live nationwide on Peacock. NBC Sports will launch Sunday Night Basketball across NBC and Peacock on Feb. 1, 2026. For a full schedule of the NBA on NBC and Peacock, click here.

How to sign up for Peacock:

Sign up here to watch all of our LIVE sports, sports shows, documentaries, classic matches, and more. You'll also get tons of hit movies and TV shows, Originals, news, 24/7 channels, and current NBC & Bravo hits—Peacock is here for whatever you're in the mood for.

Posted on

Darryn Peterson injury update: Kansas freshman guard out vs Arizona

Kansas basketball will be once again without freshman star Darryn Peterson for its Monday, Feb. 9, matchup against Arizona.

Peterson is listed as out for the No. 9 Jayhawks with flu-like symptoms, according to the Topeka Capital-Journal. That makes the task harder for Kansas against No. 1 Arizona (23-0, 10-0).

REQUIRED READING: Alabama's Charles Bediako deemed ineligible by Tuscaloosa County judge

The freshman guard has appeared in 13 games this season, averaging 20.5 points and 4.2 rebounds per game on 48.9% shooting. This marks the 11th game of the season that the projected top pick in the 2026 NBA will miss this season. Peterson has also battled a hamstring strain and cramps earlier in the season.

Junior guard Jamari McDowell started in Peterson’s place, while senior guard Melvin Council Jr. and sophomore forward Flory Bidunga have stepped up in the games Peterson has missed this season.

Kansas and Arizona had a 9 p.m. ET (8 p.m. CT) tipoff. The Jayhawks' lone loss at home this season came against No. 5 UConn.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Kansas freshman star guard Darryn Peterson out vs Arizona

Posted on

Massive fight erupts in Pistons vs. Hornets. Four players ejected

Four players were ejected following a fight during the third quarter of a game between the Detroit Pistons and Charlotte Hornets on Monday, Feb. 9.

Suspensions could follow.

The brawl began bubbling when the Hornets’ Moussa Diabate delivered a hard foul on Pistons center Jalen Duren with more than seven minutes remaining in the quarter. The players exchanged words.

Duren shoved Diabate in the face, and Charlotte forward Miles Bridges shoved Duren. Diabate threw a punch at Duren and had to be held back by coaches and teammates, according to the Detroit Free Press, part of the USA TODAY Network. 

Moments later, Bridges punched toward Duren. Pistons forward Isaiah Stewart, who was not in the game, rushed the floor and put Bridges in a headlock. Players from both teams swarmed in to separate them.

"Miles got some blows in," one announcer said on the broadcast of the game.

All four were ejected from the game.

Will Pistons and Hornets players be suspended for brawl? 

Once the NBA assesses its discipline from this fight, expect several suspensions and fines to be levied, particularly for those like Isaiah Stewart, who came off the bench. 

According to the NBA rulebook, during fights or altercations, players who aren’t subbed in must remain on the sidelines, “in the immediate vicinity of their bench.” The league also stipulates that violators will be subject to an automatic one-game suspension without pay, with an additional fine of $50,000. 

Because Stewart also threw punches and made contact with Hornets players, his suspension may be for multiple games.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Wild Pistons-Hornets brawl breaks out. Four players ejected

Posted on

Cavs get good and bad news on tonight’s injury report against Denver

SACRAMENTO, CA - FEBRUARY 7: Jaylon Tyson #20 of the Cleveland Cavaliers looks on during the game against the Sacramento Kings on February 7, 2026 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

The Cleveland Cavaliers have updated availability for numerous key players for tonight’s game against the Denver Nuggets. Dean Wade is OUT with an ankle injury, while Jaylon Tyson, who was also listed as questionable with an ankle injury, will be available to play.

Rookie Tyrese Proctor will be available to play after being questionable with an illness.

Max Strus and Evan Mobley remain out. Mobley hasn’t played since January 26 with a calf strain, while Strus has yet to play this season.

Cleveland’s wing depth has taken a hit without Wade. They traded De’Andre Hunter at the deadline for Dennis Schroder and Keon Ellis, a move that has paid off in the short-term, but has left them without many backup options on the wing other than Wade.

Wade is also one of the team’s best and most underrated defenders. He consistently raises their floor defensively and isn’t as easy to replace as you might think.

The Cavs have managed to survive even with injuries to Wade, Mobley and Strus. They’ve done so behind an All-Star caliber season from Donovan Mitchell, huge performances from Jarrett Allen, and a new Hall of Famer in James Harden.

Harden made his Cavalier debut on Saturday and scored 23 points while helping his team get across the finish line. We’ll be watching to see how Harden continues to develop chemistry with his new teammates. Allen, in particular, should continue to thrive with another pick-and-roll ball-handler in the lineup.

This is Cleveland’s final game of their West Coast road trip. They previously played the Sacramento Kings, LA Clippers, Portland Trail Blazers, and Phoenix Suns. After tonight, they’ll head home for their first game of February in Rocket Arena. They host the Washington Wizards on Wednesday.

The Cavs have the best winning percentage in the NBA since Dec. 29 and have a top-10 offense and defense during this stretch. Let’s see if they can keep on rolling and head home with one more win.

Posted on

Injury-depleted Pacers suffer another big blow as Johnny Furphy tears ACL in right knee

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The injury-depleted Indiana Pacers have been dealt another blow, announcing Monday that second-year forward Johnny Furphy is expected to miss the rest of this season after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee.

Furphy was hurt during the third quarter of Sunday's 122-104 loss at Toronto. Team officials issued a three-paragraph statement Monday saying the Australian was taken to the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York and an MRI confirmed the extent of the injury. Indiana is in New York to face the Knicks on Tuesday.

Furphy is yet another addition to an expansive injury list headlined by two-time All-Star guard Tyrese Haliburton, who has been ruled out for the rest of this season after suffering a torn Achilles tendon in Game 7 of June's NBA Finals.

Starters Andrew Nembhard, Aaron Nesmith and key backups Obi Toppin and T.J. McConnell have all missed games with injuries this season. The result: Indiana has the league's second-worst record at 13-40. The absences, however, gave Furphy, a second-round draft pick in 2024 out of Kansas, a chance to show what he could do in 21 starts. He was averaging 5.1 points, 4.4 rebounds and 1.2 assists.

The Pacers also could be dealing with yet another injured player — new center Ivica Zubac, who Indiana acquired last week in a trade with the Los Angeles Clippers. He's been dealing with an ankle injury since December and Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said recently that Zubac won't play until he's “really ready.”

___

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

Posted on

Jayson Tatum injury update: Celtics star to practice in G League

The Boston Celtics just made an announcement their fans have been eager to hear.

The franchise said star forward Jayson Tatum, who suffered a torn Achilles tendon in May, was assigned to participate in portions of a G League practice Monday, Feb. 9. Following that session, the Celtics will recall Tatum, where he’ll continue his rehab with the team.

The Celtics said they would issue future updates when appropriate.

Tatum, 27, had suffered the injury during Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the New York Knicks, but has remained a steady presence around the team through its first 53 games of the season.

The announcement doesn’t necessarily mean Tatum will return to game action imminently, but it does carry significant implications.

Here’s everything you need to know about Jayson Tatum’s recovery from his Achilles tendon rupture:

Jayson Tatum injury update: What does it mean for a potential return?

Does this mean Tatum will absolutely return at some point during the 2025-26 season? Not necessarily. Is it a positive sign? Yes, overwhelmingly so.

Achilles tendon ruptures are complicated injuries that require calculated and arduous rehabs. That Tatum has progressed to the point of limited participation in practice signals that he has advanced to a certain level of competence.

In September, Tatum told USA TODAY Sports that he hadn’t fully ruled out a return to the court for the 2025-26 season, so this aggressive timeline indicates that Tatum and the Celtics may be considering a pathway toward a return.

To be sure: the practices will be controlled and the franchise will push Tatum only as far as he’s able. And even then, they will exercise prudence and will closely monitor how he responds to the sessions.

But, if Tatum is to return this season, he’d eventually need to return to practice and a return this soon should build optimism.

Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum reacts during introductions during a game against the New Orleans Pelicans at Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana on Oct. 27, 2025.

Still, there will be plenty of work left to do for Tatum, and the most challenging part of his recovery will almost certainly be mental. After extended absences, players often feel the need to be tentative or cautious out of fear of reaggravating the injury. Tatum may face similar concerns, and he may even feel he’s lost some explosion or speed.

But even though Achilles ruptures used to be considered career-ending injuries, modern medicine has allowed plenty of players to return to full health and participation after suffering them.

Boston has surpassed expectations and is 34-19, which is currently third in the East. If Tatum is cleared and able to return, he would instantly add a massive boost of scoring, playmaking and rebounding for the Celtics.

It would also make the Celtics a real threat to win the Eastern Conference

Jayson Tatum stats

Last season, Tatum averaged 26.8 points, 8.7 rebounds and 6.0 assists per game.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Jayson Tatum injury update: Latest on Celtics star

Posted on

Pacers' Johnny Furphy out for season after tearing ACL

In the third quarter of the Indiana game in Toronto on Sunday, the Pacers' Johnny Furphy went up and threw down a huge dunk, but he landed awkwardly and crumpled to the ground, grabbing his right knee. Clearly it was something serious.

Furphy suffered a torn right ACL and had surgery to repair that on Monday in New York, the Pacers announced. He is out for the remainder of this season, and likely much of next season as well.

It's a rough setback for Furphy, 21, who was starting to find his place on this team during his season. He had moved into the starting lineup (for 21 of the last 22 games) and on the season was averaging 5.1 points and 4.4 rebounds per game. He's not out there as a scorer so much as a quality defender and rebounder, plus someone who knows how to work off the ball.

Furphy, the No. 35 overall pick in the 2024 draft, is under contract with the Pacers for next season at $2.3 million, with the team holding a $2.5 million option for the 2027-28 season as well.

Posted on

Jayson Tatum assigned to G-League Maine Celtics for day of practice

In the latest sign that Jayson Tatum appears on a path to return to the Celtics before the end of the season, he has been assigned to the Celtics G-League team for a day of practice, Boston announced Monday.

An assignment to a G-League team to get in a practice is now a common part of an injury return, even LeBron James was assigned to the G-League for a day this season. NBA teams do not practice much — especially this deep into the season, when recovery remains the most important thing — so assigning a player to a G-League team means he can get in a full practice while the team has the day off.

There remains no timetable for Tatum's return, but when asked, the organization says he is "making progress" in his recovery from a torn Achilles.

Tatum suffered that injury last May, in Game 4 of the Celtics' second-round series against the Knicks at Madison Square Garden. Recovery time for an NBA player from a torn Achilles is generally around 10-12 months, which could have Tatum back in March. At 34-19, Boston sits as the No. 3 seed in the East, and it's easy to envision how the return of their best player could spark a deep Celtics' playoff run in an open conference. That said, Tatum admitted he is re-thinking a return, in part because he doesn't want to rush his physical process, and in part because this team has found an identity without him this season and he doesn't want to parachute in and mess it up.

Tatum may be thinking about it, but a G-League assignment is a sign he is nearing a return.

Posted on

Alabama's Charles Bediako deemed ineligible by Tuscaloosa County judge

The Charles Bediako eligibility saga has come to a head for Alabama men's basketball.

The motion for a temporary injunction has been denied by Judge Daniel Pruet, according to The Tuscaloosa News ― part of the USA TODAY Network ― on Monday, Feb. 9. That means the 7-foot center's time with the Crimson Tide and return to college basketball are over.

The decision overturns the temporary restraining order by Judge James Roberts Jr. that Bediako received on Jan. 21 against the NCAA that made him immediately eligible.

Bediako originally played for Alabama from 2021 to 2023 before appearing in 82 games across three seasons in the G League.

REQUIRED READING: Jon Scheyer says Duke staff member injured during UNC court storm 'doing better'

Roberts, since then, recused himself from the case due to a conflict of interest as an Alabama donor.

In an NCAA affidavit filed on Thursday, Feb. 5, in Tuscaloosa County (Alabama), SEC commissioner Greg Sankey asked the court to rule against Bediako, siding with the NCAA.

“I respectfully ask the Court to uphold the NCAA eligibility rules challenged in this case, which are essential to the integrity of college sports, to the educational mission they serve, and to the opportunities they provide for current and future student-athletes,” Sankey wrote in the affidavit.

Bediako appeared in five games for the Crimson Tide, averaging 10 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game in 21.6 minutes. He had 12 points in Alabama's 96-92 win over Alabama on Saturday, Feb. 7.

The NCAA's argument against Bediako’s eligibility is that he signed multiple professional contracts since leaving Alabama after the 2022-23 season, which make him ineligible to return to the sport, according to the organization’s longstanding eligibility rules.

Bediako's return to college basketball is happening during a period when several former G League players have been added to college rosters for this season.

NCAA statement on Charles Bediako being ruled ineligible

NCAA President Charlie Baker released a statement on Bediako being ruled ineligible on Monday, Feb. 9.

“Common sense won a round today. The court saw this for what it is: an attempt by professionals to pivot back to college and crowd out the next generation of students," he wrote in a statement released on social media.

"College sports are for students, not for people who already walked away to go pro and now want to hit the ‘undo’ button at the expense of a teenager’s dream. While we’re glad the court upheld the rules our members actually want, one win doesn't fix the national mess of state laws. It’s time for Congress to stop watching from the sidelines and help us provide some actual stability.”

Will Alabama have to forfeit games Charles Bediako played in?

No, Alabama will not have to forfeit the games Bediako played in because he was eligible due to a TRO. He appeared in five games with the Crimson Tide, with the team going 3-2.

Alabama beat Auburn 96-92 on Saturday, Feb. 7, and defeated Texas A&M 100-97 on Feb. 4. The Crimson Tide also had a 90-64 win over Missouri. They lost to Tennessee and Florida in that span.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Charles Bediako ruled ineligible by Tuscaloosa County judge

Posted on

UPDATED: Suns Roster, Salaries, Cap Space, Available Draft Picks and More

I keep this page updated every time a deal goes down, and with the 2026 NBA trade deadline behind us, it’s time for another update.

Capologist. Have you heard this term? Given the complexities of the NBA salary cap, full of terminologies like options, luxury tax, first and second apron, mid-level exception, and Bird rights, you may feel like you need a PhD to understand it. You don’t. You just need this page, you capologist, you!

Fear not. We are collaborating with SalarySwish to leverage their data to answer any and all questions you could have about the Suns’ roster construction.

So bookmark this page, because this is where you’ll find answers to all of your questions, updated in real-time, with context and updates as they occur.

Now, onto the info…

Phoenix Suns Roster, Salaries, Draft Picks, Cap Space and More

Here is a table with all of the Suns’ salary information, courtesy of our friends at SalarySwish:

With all that data to unpack, let’s break down a few key takeaways, what they mean, and the questions they raise.

FAQ

How much salary cap space do the Suns have?

First, a refresher of the thresholds for the 2025-26 season:

  • The cap for 2025-26 is $154.6 million
  • The luxury tax begins at $187.9 million
  • The first apron begins at $195.9 million
  • The second apron begins at $207.8 million

As of now, the Suns find themselves:

  • $30.8 million over the cap
  • $2.4 million under the luxury tax
  • $10.5 million under the first apron
  • $20.9 million under the second apron
  • Not hard capped

The team currently has one roster spot open, but with three two-way contracted players, the team will most likely fill that final spot with one of them. My guess? Jamaree Bouyea.

How much will the Suns pay in luxury taxes this year?

In short? As noted above, nothing. This team was the most expensive team in NBA history a season ago. Now? From a cap hit perspective, they are the 11th cheapest in the league.

What draft picks do the Suns have?

It can get confusing, but this is where the Suns have landed after all their wheeling and dealing. The short version? Phoenix holds seven draft picks, though many come wrapped in conditions that make them more decorative than practical.

YearRoundPick Details
2026Round 2via OKC, DAL, or PHI
2027Round 1via UTA, CLE, or MIN
2028Round 1BKN, NYK, or WAS hold rights to swap
2029Round 2Own
2030Round 1Least favorable of PHX, MEM, and WAS
2032Round 1Own, frozen
2032Round 2Worst of HOU, CHI, and PHX

Listen to our latest podcast episode in the player below, and to stay up to date on every episode, subscribe to the Suns JAM Session podcast onApple, Spotify, YouTube, YouTube Podcasts, Amazon Music, Castbox.

Please subscribe, rate, and review.

Posted on

Pistons vs Hornets Discussion: Game Time, TV, Odds, and More

DETROIT, MICHIGAN - DECEMBER 20: Cade Cunningham #2 of the Detroit Pistons plays against the Charlotte Hornets at Little Caesars Arena on December 20, 2025 in Detroit, Michigan. 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 Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Troy Weaver vindicated? The Detroit Pistons are facing an incredibly dangerous Charlotte Hornets team, and a bunch of that credit must go to head coach Charles Lee. He’s gotten his team to buy in, unlocked its mishmash of high-level offensive talent, and the Hornets have gone from cute story to real danger climbing up the standings in the East. Lee, of course, was the head coach candidate whom Troy Weaver wanted to hire two years ago before he was overruled by Pistons owner Tom Gores and Vice Chairman Arn Tellem, who forced Detroit’s general manager to hire Monty Williams instead. We all know how that worked out.

The Hornets enter tonight looking for the franchise’s first 10-game winning streak since 1998, which is also the last time the team had a 50-win season. The Hornets started too slowly to reach 50 wins this season, but they are a better team than their record suggests, and this performance is no mirage. While they are justifiably known for that potent offense, which has been the best in the NBA during the team’s nine-game win streak, the defense is no pushover. Over that same span, it ranks fifth in the NBA, one spot better than the Pistons. Detroit will likely need to win with its defense, as it has all season, but will need to do so without Ron Holland, who is out tonight for personal reasons.

Detroit loves a statement game this season, and hopefully, they realize this can be one of them.

Game Vitals

When: 7 p.m. ET
Where: Spectrum Center, Charlotte, North Carolina
How: FanDuel Sports Network Detroit
Odds: Pistons -2.5

Projected Lineups

Detroit Pistons (38-13)

Cade Cunningham, Duncan Robinson, Ausar Thompson, Tobias Harris, Jalen Duren

Charlotte Hornets (25-28)

LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller, Kon Knueppel, Miles Bridges, Moussa Diabaté

Posted on

Lakers signing Kobe Bufkin makes sense and was a smart move

LOS ANGELES — Before the Lakers’ victory over the Warriors, president of basketball operations/general manager Rob Pelinka told a handful of beat reporters the team would likely fill its 15th and final open roster spot after doing its “due diligence”. 

A few hours later, the Lakers solidified how they wanted to use the roster slot by signing Kobe Bufkin to a two-year contract with a team option for the 2026-27 season in a move that may have gone under the radar since it was first reported late on a Saturday night and became official during Sunday’s Super Bowl.

While the Lakers could’ve gone in different directions for filling out their roster, signing Bufkin was the right move.

The Los Angeles Lakers have signed guard Kobe Bufkin to a two-year contract, solidifying their final roster spot. NBAE via Getty Images

Before even getting into what makes Bufkin worthy of being a full-time NBA player — and how he is likely outside the regular rotation for the remainder of this season — the Lakers’ other opportunities for their final roster spot needs to be addressed. 

Because most times a roster or personnel move is made, there are, naturally, statements that fit into the “would’ve, could’ve, should’ve” narrative. 

Yes, the Lakers could’ve tried to sign someone off the buyout/midseason free agency market. 

Cam Thomas, who’s since signed with the Bucks after being waived by the Nets, and Haywood Highsmith, who like Thomas was also waived by the Nets last week, were popular names tied to the Lakers.

But individually, both players either didn’t fit or came with their own risks. 

Charlotte Hornets guard Sion James, left, shoots as Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bufkin defends during the second half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Jan. 15. AP

For as talented as Thomas is, and his skillset is evident in the 21.4 points he’s averaged over the last three seasons, did the Lakers need a score-first, smaller guard who’s a liability on the defensive end of the floor? And unlike Bufkin, the team signing Thomas (the Bucks in this case) would either need to have or open up a spot in the rotation so Thomas could receive regular playing time. With Austin Reaves back in the lineup and the trade for Luke Kennard, the Lakers simply don’t have a need for what Thomas brings. 

Highsmith would’ve been a tantalizing option, with the 6-foot-5 forward having a skillset (high-level perimeter defense, 38.8% shooting on 3-pointers the last two seasons) and motor the Lakers lack. But Highsmith has yet to play this season after having surgery in early August to repair a meniscal tear in his right knee — a procedure that was originally supposed to sideline him for eight-to-10 weeks. 

The critiques about the Lakers’ options besides signing Bufkin highlight a bigger point: the buyout/midseason free agency market rarely provides players who’ll have a positive impact on a team’s chances of making noise in the playoffs, let alone contend for the championship.

Kobe Bufkin and LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers shake hands before the game against the LA Clippers on January 22. NBAE via Getty Images

The team’s last two signings off the buyout market — Spencer Dinwiddie in 2024 and Alex Len last year —  are usually how those types of midseason additions impact a team compared to Markieff Morris’ run with the 2020 Lakers that won the NBA title. 

In Bufkin, the Lakers are getting a 22-year-old guard who they had interest in drafting in 2023 before he was taken by the Hawks, two spots ahead of the Lakers using the No. 17 pick to select Jalen Hood-Schifino. 

As the No. 15 pick in 2023, Bufkin not only has the pedigree but also the size (6-foot-4 with a 6-foot-8 wingspan) to be successful in the NBA. Success in the G League doesn’t translate to success in the NBA, but the way Bufkin played for the Lakers’ South Bay G League affiliate shouldn’t be overlooked. He’s also shown he’s willing to step up his play defensively. 

The Lakers have seen multiple younger or lesser-experienced players they’ve invested in have positive impacts on their next team after the Lakers decided not to see that investment through — with Jordan Goodwin being the latest example after they waived him over the summer to become salary cap compliant before signing Marcus Smart. 

By signing Bufkin, the Lakers give themselves an opportunity to see what they can get out of their investment on a talented, young and inexpensive player — an especially important factor in the modern NBA with how punitive the salary cap aprons are for team building.